ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Animal By-Products Regulation

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Hove district council vehicles, which removed the carcases from the recent Labour Party Conference, met the vehicle specifications laid down in the Animal By-Products Regulation.

Ben Bradshaw: It is the Department's understanding that the vehicles used met with the vehicle specifications laid down in the Animal By-Products Regulations. This was achieved through the use of tarpaulins to cover and contain the carcases and the use of absorbent granules to soak up any leakage.

Animal Welfare

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has made to other EU member states concerning animal welfare standards in live animal transport; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government will raise specific issues with EU member states and candidate member states whenever necessary. The UK's concern for high enforcement standards was made very clear earlier this year during discussion of proposals for a new regulation on animal welfare during transport. We welcome the news that the Dutch Presidency has brought the EU proposals on welfare on transport back to member states for discussion.

Archaeological Sites

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what protection is afforded to sites of archaeological interest from being (a) built on and (b) farmed inappropriately.

Richard Caborn: I have been asked to reply.
	Protection for such activities is afforded under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. In addition potential developers are required to follow guidelines issued in the Planning Policy Guidance Note 16.
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is currently reviewing its legislation for Heritage Protection.

Broiler Chickens

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to bring forward legislation to improve the welfare of broiler chickens, with particular regard to (a) lower stocking densities, (b) longer periods of darkness to allow for rest and (c) environmental enrichment to allow for natural behaviour; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: General standards for the welfare of all farm animals are laid down on an EU basis and apply to broiler chickens. Additional standards of best practice are set out in the Code of Recommendations for Meat Chickens. Any legislation setting standards for the welfare of meat chickens should be applied on an EU basis to ensure a level playing field. The European Commission expects to issue proposals for such standards in the near future.

Drainage Regulations

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what definition her Department uses of the phrase floors laid to facilitate the drainage of liquids, used in Regulation 1774/2002 and SI 2003 No.1482.

Ben Bradshaw: To comply with this requirement, we would expect floors to be constructed from an impervious material with proper falls to drains to ensure that washing water and effluent do not form puddles in the area.

Fallen Stock

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Animal By-Products Regulation with respect to the collection of fallen stock.

Ben Bradshaw: In all cases, animal by-products (including fallen stock) must be collected/transported in accordance with Annex II of Regulation (EC) No. 1774/2002, the 'Animal By-Products Regulation'. This requires animal by-products to be transported either in sealed, new packaging or in covered, leak-proof containers or vehicles. The vehicle, container or packaging must also be labelled in accordance with Annex II and accompanied by the required documentation.

Fallen Stock

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many establishments, which previously received and processed fallen stock, are no longer able to do so because of her Department's enforcement of the EU Animal By-Products Regulation.

Ben Bradshaw: Although information regarding the location of fallen stock collection and processing premises is available, this is not kept in a format which would allow their relationship to previous approvals to be ascertained.
	As of 15 October 2004, 1,735 establishments have sought approval under the Regulation, 54 have been rejected, 1,393 have been approved and 288 are awaiting assessment by the State Veterinary Service as to whether or not an approval can be issued.
	Note:
	Not all of the animal by-product premises referred to receive and/or process fallen stock.

Farm Retail Prices

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what and how many organisations her Department (a) approached and (b) tendered to undertake the study investigation of the determinants of farm retail price spread, published in July.

Alun Michael: Defra invited six organisations with relevant expertise in economic research to tender for the contract to undertake the study.
	Three of the invited organisations submitted written tender documents to Defra.

Hunting Bill

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what financial or other assistance will be offered by the Government to the owners of greyhounds affected by an immediate ban on hare coursing in England and Wales under the Hunting Bill.

Alun Michael: The Government is not providing financial compensation to accompany this Bill because nobody is being deprived of their property as a result of it. Dogs and other property currently used for hare coursing events can continue to be used for other legal purposes. However, the Government recognises that the Bill will affect the owners of dogs that currently engage in hunting and coursing and is ready to explore ways in which they might be assisted to avoid the unnecessary destruction of healthy animals. The Government is very grateful for the RSPCA's offer to help re-home dogs no longer wanted as a result of this Bill. The RSPCA has considerable previous experience in successfully re-homing retired racing greyhounds.

Ministerial Meetings

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will next meet Commissioner Byrne.

Margaret Beckett: I meet Commissioner Byrne and other Commissioners whose portfolios cover Defra responsibilities on a regular basis.

Organic Farming

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs why she has sought a derogation from the EU directive on the size of flocks for the production of organic chicken and eggs.

Ben Bradshaw: The derogation to which you are referring to is the provision within Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 which permits stocking densities and flock sizes higher than normally permitted, in respect of livestock producing holdings, for buildings constructed before 24 August 1999, until 31 December 2010.
	The Compendium of UK Standards, however, only permitted the derogation until 25 August 2005, which would mean UK poultry producers would be disadvantaged compared with their counterparts in other member states. My Department reviewed the effect of maintaining the date at 2005 for the UK and sought the views of the organic sector, retailers and ACOS, Defra's Advisory Committee on Organic Standards.
	After careful consideration of all the representations received and taking account of the interests of the organic poultry sector as a whole, I decided that organic poultry producers should be allowed to continue to benefit from the derogation until 31 December 2010, which puts UK producers on an even footing with those in the rest of the European Union.

Organic Farming

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of (a) future demand for organic food in the UK and (b) the capacity of UK organic farms to supply that demand.

Ben Bradshaw: The following assessments, provided in connection with the publication of the "Action plan to develop organic food and farming in England" are particularly relevant:
	England's Organic Sector Prospects for Growth (Stopes, July 2002) which can be viewed at http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/organic/actionplan/prospects.htm
	And
	Economic Evaluation of the Organic Farming Scheme (Centre for Rural Economics Research, University of Cambridge, May 2002) which can be viewed at http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/Organic/actionplan/eco-evaluation.htm
	These documents consider the UK as well as England.
	Also relevant is:
	Evidence Assessment to Inform the Review of the Organic farming Scheme (ADAS Consulting Limited and the University of Reading, September 2003) which can be viewed at http://statistics.defra.gov.uk/esg/evaluation/ofs/default.asp

Organic Farming

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of (a) the potential of the organic farming industry in the UK and (b) the support needed from Government to fulfil its potential.

Ben Bradshaw: The report "Action plan to develop organic food and farming in England—Two Years On, which I launched on 2 August this year, contains an analysis of the market for organic food. The document expects continued growth in sales of organic food. It notes that the area farmed organically in the UK has grown from 30,000 ha in 1993 to 696,000 in 2004. This is an expansion of over 23 times.
	The level of UK demand for organic food met by UK producers has increased over the last two years from 30 per cent. to 44 per cent., but the report recognises a target of 70 per cent. to be met from UK production by 2010. Our support for organic farming includes enhancements introduced last year to the English Organic Farming scheme to allow farmers who have completed organic conversion to receive payments in return for observing environmental conditions and a new rate of aid for conversion for organic top fruit production (apples, pears etc). For the longer term support for organic farming will be through a specific strand in the Agri—Environment Scheme.
	Our review of the Organic Farming Scheme was based on a substantial evidence exercise "Evidence Assessment to Inform the Review of the Organic farming Scheme" (ADAS Consulting Limited and the University of Reading, September 2003). This report can be viewed at http://statistics.defra.gov.uk/esg/evaluation/ofs/default.asp

Organic Farming

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department has spent on the promotion of organic crops and foods in the United Kingdom in each of the past 10 years.

Ben Bradshaw: We do not have a budget specifically for the generic promotion of organic food and crops. However, the Rural Enterprise Scheme, which forms part of the England Rural Development Programme, can provide assistance towards good value and sustainable projects that help market organic and other quality agricultural products. Since the launch of the scheme in October 2000, the scheme's marketing measure has provided the funding for promoting organic produce as shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Calendar Year The Rural Enterprise Scheme—approximate value of projects involving the marketing of organic products (£000) 
		
		
			 2002 144 
			 2003 258 
			 2004 447 
		
	
	In addition, Defra approved and supported an application by the Soil Association for EU funds to promote the organic sector. The application was successful and the Soil Association has secured EU funding of £296,060 under the EC Regulations for the Promotion of Agricultural Products (EC) 2826/2000. The Soil Association have joined with the Italian body AIAB to deliver the promotion campaign, which will run for three years from January 2004.

Organic Farming

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department has spent on independent research into organic crops and food in each year since 1994.

Ben Bradshaw: The total committed by Defra to its Organic Farming research projects since the start of the Organic Farming R and D Programme in 1991 is £19,059,000. The committed spending from this budget on independent research into organic crops and food per financial year since 1994 amounts to £17,242,000 as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1994–95 867,000 
			 1995–96 931,000 
			 1996–97 1,116,000 
			 1997–98 908,000 
			 1998–99 1,481,000 
			 1999–2000 2,039,000 
			 2000–01 2,087,000 
			 2001–02 2,127,000 
			 2002–03 1,809,000 
			 2003–04 1,927,000 
			 2004–05 (1)1,950,000 
		
	
	(1) provisional figure
	Defra funds research worth about £40 million per year to support sustainable development of the farming and food sector. In addition to research specific to organic farming, much of this general farm research has direct relevance to the organic sector.

Organophosphate Victims

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to publish the report of the epidemiological study of organophosphate victims by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine commissioned by her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 18 October 2004
	The hon. Member for North Cornwall is aware that the London School for Hygiene and Tropical Medicine was contracted to carry out this study and to submit its draft final report for this work in August 2003. As described in my answer to the hon. Member's previous question, given on 20 July 2004, Official Report, column 124W, we received a preliminary draft report of the findings from this study on 13 July 2004. As is usual before publication of any scientific report, this was submitted to a panel of independent experts for peer review.
	Comments received from this panel were forwarded to the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) on 21 September 2004. The LSHTM has been invited to consider and respond to the issues raised and to address them in its final report. We hope that this process will be complete by the end of October.
	Once we are in receipt of this final report, and are satisfied that it adequately addresses the issues raised by the independent peer reviewers, we will publish it without delay.
	Separate to the peer review process, we understand that Professor Kerry Mills from King's College Hospital has recently met with the contractors to begin his assessment of the validity of the clinical phase of the study. We will be guided by Professor Mills' advice on whether the clinical study should be fully audited before it is published. However, depending on the time scale of this process, we may need to publish the clinical study separately.

Plant and Animal Disease Diagnostics

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she has evaluated on onsite polymerase chain reaction real time technology for diagnosis of animal and plant disease.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 15 October 2004
	Defra receives a considerable amount of information about developments in real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology from a variety of sources and work is continuing at the Institute for Animal Health on the development of novel assays for early, rapid and pen-side ('on-site') testing for foot and mouth disease. The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory has also launched a joint venture with industry to develop the technology's wider potential to provide reliable diagnostic tests for animal diseases.
	PCR is used routinely for the diagnosis of plant diseases within the laboratory and it has been further developed for use 'on-site' for the diagnosis of two plant diseases "Phytophthora ramorum" (known as Sudden Oak Death in the USA) and the recently discovered disease, "Phytophthora" taxon C. The technology is currently being evaluated in the field alongside the Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate (PHSI) at disease outbreak sites. A large EU and Defra funded project is underway to develop the capability of the PHSI to conduct real time PCR for the detection of a range of plant quarantine diseases at ports and points of inspection. We regard this technology as a significant tool for improving the speed and accuracy for detecting key plant diseases.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Consultancy Firms

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the top 20 consultancy firms by contract value used by the Department in each of the last five years.

Hilary Benn: The information requested is set out in the following tables:
	
		
			  Number  Consultant Award value of new contracts issued during 1999–2000 (£) 
		
		
			 1 Natural Resources International Ltd. 27,524,200 
			 2 The British Council 23,743,248 
			 3 HLSP Consulting Ltd. IHSD 14,074,557 
			 4 Options Consultancy Services Ltd. 11,371,111 
			 5 HTS Consultants 10,869,938 
			 6 Fountain Renewable Resources Ltd. 8,743,763 
			 7 Nicare 8,589,627 
			 8 (Well) London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (University of London) 7,675,822 
			 9 The Crown Agents for Overseas Governments and Administrations Ltd. 7,320,040 
			 10 Pricewaterhousecoopers 6,030,092 
			 11 Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick and Company Ltd. 5,775,450 
			 12 Newcastle University 5,742,865 
			 13 ATOS KPMG Consulting Ltd. 5,623,726 
			 14 CFBT Education Services (Centre for British Teachers) 5,573,801 
			 15 WSP International Ltd. 5,168,597 
			 16 Ernst & Young PVT Ltd. 5,108,082 
			 17 Adam Smith International Ltd. 4,893,502 
			 18 Helm Corporation Ltd. 4,864,982 
			 19 ENTEC UK 4,602,693 
			 20 KPMG 4,444,649 
		
	
	
		
			  Number  Consultant Award value of new contracts issued during 2000–01 (£) 
		
		
			 1 HTS Consultants 21,897,323 
			 2 The British Council 16,771,471 
			 3 Pricewaterhousecoopers LLP 12,278,083 
			 4 The Crown Agents for Overseas Governments and Administrations Ltd. 7,352,493 
			 5 WSP International Ltd. 7,085,500 
			 6 Deloitte & Touche Emerging Markets 5,625,378 
			 7 Landell Mills Ltd. 5,462,878 
			 8 Oxford Policy Management Ltd. 4,286,365 
			 9 Agricultural Development and Advisory Service (ADAS International) 4,240,868 
			 10 GHK International Ltd. 4,198,156 
			 11 Institute for Health Sector Development (IHSD) Ltd./HLSP 4,000,325 
			 12 Centre for International Development and Training, University of Wolverhampton 3,934,613 
			 13 Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick and Company Ltd. 3,778,996 
			 14 Enterplan International 3,688,415 
			 15 ATOS KPMG Consulting Ltd. 3,353,547 
			 16 (Well) London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (University of London) 3,232,404 
			 17 Birks Sinclair and Associates 3,208,928 
			 18 Centre for Development Studies (Wales) 3,119,713 
			 19 Bannock Consulting 3,097,315 
			 20 Liverpool Associates in Tropical Health Ltd. 3,084,909 
		
	
	
		
			  Number  Consultant Award value of new contracts issued during 2001–02 (£) 
		
		
			 1 Population Services International 52,800,000 
			 2 Natural Resources International Ltd. 39,857,244 
			 3 Arcadis BMB 12,774,113 
			 4 WSP International Ltd. 11,478,383 
			 5 The British Council 10,198,523 
			 6 HTS Consultants 9,298,476 
			 7 IMC Consulting Ltd. 7,547,287 
			 8 Agricultural Development and Advisory Service (ADAS International) 6,991,816 
			 9 HLSP Consulting Ltd./IHSD 6,120,046 
			 10 Environmental Resources Management 5,728,933 
			 11 University of Edinburgh (CTVM) 5,534,000 
			 12 University College of North Wales 5,100,000 
			 13 Liverpool Associates in Tropical Health Ltd. 4,600,113 
			 14 Birks Sinclair and Associates 4,444,674 
			 15 Water Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC) 4,306,960 
			 16 Carl Bro International 3,574,483 
			 17 WS Atkins International Ltd. 3,357,401 
			 18 Oxford Policy Management Ltd. (OPM) 3,160,651 
			 19 Centre for International Development and Training, University of Wolverhampton 2,924,658 
			 20 University of Stirling 2,840,000 
		
	
	
		
			  Number  Consultant Award value of new contracts issued during 2002–03 (£) 
		
		
			 1 ATOS KPMG Consulting Ltd. 35,535,185 
			 2 The British Council 19,903,242 
			 3 HTS Consultants 16,069,402 
			 4 HLSP Consulting Ltd./IHSD 15,588,359 
			 5 Charles Kendall & Partners Ltd. 12,979,117 
			 6 Maxwell Stamp plc 12,308,085 
			 7 Deloitte & Touche South Africa 9,683,316 
			 8 Enterplan International 8,795,163 
			 9 Adam Smith International Ltd. 7,724,264 
			 10 Pricewaterhousecoopers 7,670,068 
			 11 The Crown Agents for Overseas Governments and Administrations Ltd. 7,539,558 
			 12 Oxford Policy Management Ltd. 7,522,799 
			 13 John Snow International (JSI) Research and Training (UK) 5,714,909 
			 14 Nicare 5,454,180 
			 15 Population Services International 5,035,208 
			 16 SNC Lavalin International Inc 3,630,824 
			 17 Birks Sinclair and Associates 3,351,740 
			 18 PMTC International 3,340,733 
			 19 Emerging Market Economics Ltd. 3,028,109 
			 20 Fountain Renewable Resources Ltd. 2,817,910 
		
	
	
		
			  Number  Consultant Award value of new contracts issued during 2003–04 (£) 
		
		
			 1 Maxwell Stamp plc 49,719,072 
			 2 WSP International Ltd. 14,465,029 
			 3 Futures Group Europe Ltd. 13,870,550 
			 4 Deloitte & Touche South Africa 13,100,000 
			 5 The British Council 12,293,273 
			 6 Oxford Policy Management Ltd. (OPM) 11,130,562 
			 7 IHSD Ltd./HLSP 10,659,795 
			 8 Cambridge Education Consultants 9,269,620 
			 9 ATOS KPMG Consulting Ltd. 9,093,262 
			 10 Options Consultancy Services Ltd. 6,972,137 
			 11 Pricewaterhousecoopers 3,343,781 
			 12 KPMG Consulting Private Ltd. (India) 3,098,409 
			 13 The Crown Agents for Overseas Governments and Administrations Ltd. 3,073,021 
			 14 Cardiff and Vale Enterprise International 2,700,000 
			 15 International Alert 2,611,896 
			 16 Adam Smith International Ltd. 2,585,570 
			 17 Enterprise plc 2,495,570 
			 18 Roughton International 2,359,986 
			 19 Arcadis BMB 2,284,511 
			 20 GRM International Ltd. 2,073,360

Deforestation

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to discourage deforestation in poor countries prone to flooding; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID's support to forestry in poor countries aims to help them manage and conserve their forests to provide the goods and services that people need. Protection of watersheds is one of these services. DFID spends about £20 million a year on forestry through country programmes and centrally funded research. DFID currently supports forestry work in Brazil, Cameroon, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Nepal, South Africa and Uganda.
	In addition, DFID invests about £29 million a year in the Global Environment Facility (GEF), a significant share of which is spent on forest conservation. To date the GEF has invested $770 million in 150 forestry projects.
	DFID also contributes funds to a number of international organisations that have significant programmes of support to forestry, such as the World Bank, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the European Commission.

Know How Fund

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list projects financed through the Know How Fund in the past 12 months, broken down by type of project.

Hilary Benn: Assistance provided through the Know How Fund concluded in 1997. DFID's work in the Accession Countries, Bulgaria, Romania, Russia, Ukraine and the Western Balkans since 1997 is set out in Country and Regional Strategy Papers. A review of DFID/ODA's programmes in the Accession Countries (Evaluation Report EV650) is available on DFID's website. www.dfid.gov.uk

Sudan

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has received on the delivery of humanitarian aid to Darfur.

Hilary Benn: I am gravely concerned about the situation in Darfur, Sudan. The UN estimates that 2 million are people are in need of assistance in Darfur, including 1.45 million displaced. The World Food Programme estimated that in September over 1.3 million received food aid.
	However, delivery of assistance is still inadequate. The World Health Organisation estimates that between 6,000–10,000 people are dying each month in Darfur. Insecurity and logistical difficulties continue to hamper the delivery of assistance. DFID is pressing all parties to the conflict to abide by the ceasefire and improve security. In addition, we have provided over £4 million to the World Food Programme for their logistical operations in Darfur and over £1 million to the UN for security operations. The UK is the second biggest bilateral donor to Darfur, committing £62.5 million since September 2003.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Commission Responsibilities

Marion Roe: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will make a statement on progress made by the House of Commons Commission in considering matters within its responsibility.

Archy Kirkwood: At its meeting on 18 October, the House of Commons Commission considered the report on security on the parliamentary estate commissioned, together with the House of Lords authorities, from the Metropolitan Police and security service. This report has already been subject to detailed consideration by the informal joint committee on security which advises the presiding officers of both Houses.
	The Commission does not propose to publish any details of the proposals in the report, which is for obvious reasons a classified document. Some recent enhancements of security arrangements have already been announced to Members. Work is already under way in a number of other areas, including planning for the permanent screen to be erected in the Chamber in 2005. The Commission has also agreed in principle to the appointment of a Parliamentary Security Co-ordinator. Many of the proposals will of course also require the agreement of the authorities in the House of Lords.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Linda Watson

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Solicitor-General what the result was of the internal complaints procedure investigation into the conduct by the Crown Prosecution Service of its decision to prosecute Linda Watson for the murder of her husband; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: There has been no internal complaints procedure investigation. The Crown Prosecution Service staff who dealt with the case are not aware of any complaint having been made in relation to the conduct of the case, either at the time or subsequently.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Building Standards

David Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent submissions he has received on the effect on building standards of the introduction of competition into building control; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: Private sector competition in building control is regulated through the Approved Inspectors (AIs) Regulations 2000. Building owners have the option of employing AIs as an alternative to traditional local authority building control services. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has designated the Construction Industry Council (CIC) as the vetting authority for AIs. Any submission concerning a reduction in building standards involving AIs would be dealt with seriously by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in conjunction with the CIC. There are no recent examples of such an occurrence.

Devolved Government

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress he has made towards providing for effective devolved decision-making within a framework of national targets and policies.

Nick Raynsford: The Government's approach to devolving decision-making was set out in the Devolved Decision Making Review, issued alongside Budget 2004.
	At regional level the White Paper "Your Region, Your Choice" set out proposals for directly elected regional assemblies in those regions that wish to have them. On 4 November 2004, regional and local referendums will take place to decide whether an elected assembly is established in the North East.
	The Government is working with the RDAs to develop a new framework for setting their objectives. This will simplify and strengthen the current arrangements and make sure performance is measured against real regional and national priorities. In the Spending Review 2004 the Government announced:
	Increased Regional Development Agency (RDA) funding from £1.85 billion in 2004–05 to £2.3 billion by 2007–08. Since 2002, each RDA's funding has been in a single pot, giving them substantial flexibility to use their resources to respond to regional priorities;
	RDAs will take on responsibility for the delivery of Business Link services, R and D grants and promoting enterprise in disadvantaged areas from April 2005;
	In those regions where the RDA and Learning and Skills Council (LSC) want it, the Government will consider favourably a 'dual key' approach to the management of adult skills budgets operated by the RDA Chief Executive and the Regional LSC Director;
	RDAs will have an enhanced role in supporting business-university collaboration, as part of the response to the Lambert Review;
	The Government is examining new ways to integrate regional economic strategies with regional transport and spatial development strategies, within a framework of indicative long term funding guidelines. The first guideline budgets for the English regions will be published alongside the Chancellor's 2005 Budget statement.
	At local level, the Government published 'The future of local government: Developing a 10 year vision', which sets out how the Government is taking the Devolving Decision Making review forward in the context of a longer term strategy for local government.
	As part of this work, the Government recently announced proposals to pilot Local Area Agreements (LAAs) in 21 local authorities. LAAs are intended to simplify funding streams, join up public services and give councils and other local delivery partners more flexibility. They will build on the package of freedoms and flexibilities already given to local authorities.

Energy Efficiency (York)

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much public money has been invested in energy efficiency measures in (a) council, (b) housing association and (c) private homes in York in each year since 1997.

Keith Hill: The information requested where available is given in three tables below. This information is not currently available for housing association homes.
	
		Local Authority Housing Investment
		
			  Investment (£million) 
		
		
			 1997–98 1,534000 
			 1998–99 1,625000 
			 1999–2000 1,267000 
			 2000–01 1,349000 
			 2001–02 1,944000 
			 2002–03 1,529000 
			 2003–04 Figures unavailable 
		
	
	These figures cover, double-glazing, cavity wall insulation, loft insulation and heating improvements. This work has been completed by the local authority as part of an overall modernisation programme for housing.
	
		Local Authority Investment in Private Sector Housing
		
			  Investment £000 
		
		
			 1997–8 157,000 
			 1998–9 680,000 
		
	
	No further information available.
	
		Energy Partnership Project for Private Sector Homes funded by Energy Saving Trust, initiated by York Council and managed by Energy Efficiency Advice Centre.
		
			  Number of households helped  Total spent £000 
		
		
			 1998–99 44 13,126.00 
			 1999–2000 389 137,315.29 
			 2000–01 515 191,528.79 
			 2001–02 295 264,577.60 
			 2002–03 112 112,096.89 
			 2003–04 129 38,346.91 
		
	
	This investment covers cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, heating systems and boiler replacement.

Housing (Somerset)

David Laws: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to increase the supply of affordable homes in Somerset; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: Through the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme (ADP) the South West Housing Body has allocated the following amounts to deliver 324 Affordable Homes in South Somerset from 2003 until 2006:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2003–04 1,518,626 
			 2004–05 1,300,629 
			 2005–06 4,007,790

Local Government

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total cost of administering local government has been in each year since 1990.

Nick Raynsford: The total revenue expenditure by all local authorities on all services since 1990–91 is listed in the following table.
	
		
			  (£ million) 
		
		
			 1990–91 35,851 
			 1991–92 39,472 
			 1992–93 42,020 
			 1993–94 41,506 
			 1994–95 43,602 
			 1995–96 44,827 
			 1996–97 46,532 
			 1997–98 47,256 
			 1998–99 50,189 
			 1999–2000 53,651 
			 2000–01 57,329 
			 2001–02 61,952 
			 2002–03 65,906 
			 2003–04 72,473 
			 2004–05 79,447 
		
	
	Source:
	Local Government Financial Statistics—England: various years
	The data show actual outturn figures for all years except 2003–04 and 2004–05 which budget estimates.
	The figures show local government expenditure financed from Revenue Support Grant, specific grants within Aggregate External Finance, special grants, non-domestic rates, community charges (1990–91 to 1992–93) council taxes (1993–94 onwards) and balances. The figures also include spending met by community charge grant (1991–92), additional grant for teachers pay (1992–93), SSA reduction grant (1994–95 to 2001–02), police grant (1995–96 onwards), Central Support Protection Grant (1990–2000 to 2001–02) and General Greater London Authority Grant (2000–01 onwards).

Local Government

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the Evaluation of Community Strategies and Plan Rationalisation will be implemented; how far implementation will extend; and what the cost of implementation will be to public funds.

Nick Raynsford: The formative evaluation of Community Strategies and the Plan Rationalisation process commenced in early 2004 and is due to complete by early 2007.
	The evaluation is producing a series of guidance materials to support local, regional and central stakeholders. Outputs will be produced on an incremental basis throughout the three years.
	In order to make cost savings and reduce the research burden on local agencies, research on these two closely related policies have been combined through shared research instruments. Thus the total contract cost is estimated at £572,535. The evaluation is also linked to supporting other key aspects of local government policy, notably Local Strategic Partnerships and developing Local Area Agreements.

Local Government

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the Overarching Evaluation of the Local Government Modernisation Agenda will be implemented; how far implementation will extend; and what the cost of implementation will be to public funds.

Nick Raynsford: The Overarching Evaluation of the Local Government Modernisation Agenda (LGMA) commenced in January 2002 and is due to be completed in December 2007.
	The evaluation aims to draw together the lessons learned from evaluations of the 20 or more individual policy elements of the LGMA, such as the Best Value Regime, Local Public Service Agreements, New Council Constitutions and Local Strategic Partnerships. It seeks to provide an overview of the impacts of the LGMA as a whole in the key areas of service improvement, accountability, community leadership, stakeholder engagement and public confidence. It also seeks to provide an understanding of how these policies interact and key drivers of change to inform current delivery of policies and future policy development.
	The evaluation is designed to produce a series of annual reports, conference presentations, seminars, and specific thematic and policy papers throughout the lifetime of the study. This approach is to ensure flexible and timely use of research findings by a range of policy and practitioner audiences. The project is overseen by a Steering Group, administered and chaired by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister with the Audit Commission, IDeA, LGA, Employers Organisation and SOLACE as members. The Steering Group has developed a dissemination strategy, drawing on the resources available to each organisation, to ensure the lessons learned from this work reach local government as effectively as possible. The total contract cost of this programme of work over its entire five years is £1,817,328.

Local Government

Diana Organ: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he plans to issue the advice from the Standards Board for England in relation to declarations of prejudicial interests for local authority councillors.

Phil Hope: The Standards Board for England is an independent body, established by Parliament. One of the Board's functions is to issue guidance to local authorities relating to the conduct of members. The Board has recently prepared new guidance relating to potential conflicts of interest arising from membership of lobby groups and where members sit on more than one relevant authority and other public bodies. The guidance, entitled 'Lobby groups, dual-hatted members and the Code of Conduct', was published on the Board's website on 29 September. The Board plans to distribute copies of the guidance to all authorities by the end of October.

Local Government

David Laws: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his estimate is of the change in the local authority grant to Somerset county council which would result in 2005–06 if the 2001 Census data were used; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The provisional amount of grant for each local authority in 2005–06 will be announced to Parliament later this year. An announcement has already been made that we will not be using the 2001 Census data in the 2005–06 settlement on 21 July 2004, Official Report, column 30WS. This is because it would have been technically incorrect to have simply introduced the data without first amending the statistical models underlying the Formula Spending Share formulae. Changing the formulae in this way would have broken the formula freeze that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has introduced to provide funding stability for authorities. Further research is being undertaken on the formula changes needed to incorporate the 2001 Census data into the Formula Spending Share formulae.
	It is not therefore possible to estimate what amount of grant any authority would receive if the 2001 Census data were to be incorporated. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will be consulting local authorities during the summer of 2005 on the formulae for the 2006–07 settlement incorporating the 2001 Census data.

Local Government

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when corporate capital strategies and asset management plans will be implemented; how far implementation will extend; and what the cost of implementation will be to public funds.

Nick Raynsford: Local authorities have been producing capital strategies and asset management plans since 2000. Most now have good quality plans in place and authorities are no longer required to submit them to central Government. There should be no net cost to public funds since these processes are essential elements of effective corporate planning and the costs should be far outweighed by the resulting efficiency gains and service improvements.

Local Government

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for what reasons his Department will not use the 2001 Census data for the calculation of the local government finance settlement; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will use 2001 Census figures in relation to the local government financial settlement for Bedfordshire from 2005–06; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The provisional amount of grant for each local authority in 2005–06 will be announced to Parliament later this year. An announcement has already been made that we will not be using the 2001 Census data in the 2005–06 settlement on 21 July 2004, Official Report, column 30WS. This is because it would have been technically incorrect to have simply introduced the data without first amending the statistical models underlying the Formula Spending Share formulae. Changing the formulae in this way would have broken the formula freeze that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has introduced to provide funding stability for authorities. Further research is being undertaken on the formula changes needed to incorporate the 2001 Census data into the Formula Spending Share formulae.
	It is not therefore possible to estimate what amount of grant any authority would receive if the 2001 Census data were to be incorporated. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will be consulting local authorities during the summer of 2005 on the formulae for the 2006–07 settlement incorporating the 2001 Census data.

Local Government

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much central government funding was given to each borough council in London in each of the last 10 years.

Nick Raynsford: The requested information has been tabled as follows.
	
		Central government funding to London boroughs—1995–96 to 2004–05 Figures shown in £000
		
			  1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 
		
		
			 Greater London Authority  
			 City of London 96,339 95,218 96,827 85,052 86,929 
			 Camden 187,947 187,092 194,222 200,121 208,994 
			 Greenwich 200,794 198,573 196,638 207,230 225,508 
			 Hackney 243,744 242,301 245,175 246,385 258,648 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 150,676 147,347 145,387 148,850 159,107 
			 Islington 192,560 189,503 190,019 201,697 224,987 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 116,026 115,371 117,946 120,870 127,582 
			 Lambeth 266,047 261,144 258,401 266,091 284,441 
			 Lewisham 213,826 214,967 219,953 234,615 249,200 
			 Southwark 244,138 236,301 238,281 252,635 279,265 
			 Tower Hamlets 246,929 246,061 249,471 269,788 289,204 
			 Wandsworth 220,014 212,517 209,511 208,076 218,592 
			 Westminster 202,928 200,166 208,944 205,743 214,927 
			 Barking and Dagenham 113,106 116,061 118,656 136,439 153,355 
			 Barnet 174,312 178,183 181,321 197,653 206,389 
			 Bexley 121,616 126,384 127,211 138,397 150,293 
			 Brent 216,203 218,666 215,229 228,112 237,213 
			 Bromley 138,673 145,124 148,817 158,935 170,679 
			 Croydon 190,830 196,251 198,743 213,961 223,053 
			 Ealing 208,220 208,611 204,892 219,684 231,883 
			 Enfield 176,613 181,993 185,874 202,007 219,856 
			 Haringey 195,928 198,961 198,379 217,479 236,886 
			 Harrow 114,946 117,095 116,256 124,974 131,021 
			 Havering 119,414 122,202 120,663 129,039 137,320 
			 Hillingdon 139,846 145,547 146,479 156,474 173,676 
			 Hounslow 149,747 154,632 156,701 164,042 175,518 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 71,293 72,605 72,051 75,483 80,037 
			 Merton 97,346 98,720 99,184 107,148 116,318 
			 Newham 247,061 251,196 257,090 286,302 308,655 
			 Redbridge 143,488 150,824 153,034 167,213 183,073 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 67,491 69,692 71,097 75,758 81,937 
			 Sutton 96,406 99,840 99,803 106,006 114,785 
			 Waltham Forest 176,434 179,196 179,071 192,707 210,339 
			 London total 5,540,941 5,578,344 5,621,326 5,944,966 6,369,670 
		
	
	
		
			  2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Greater London Authority 2,057,037 2,557,745 2,880,372 3,322,134 4,443,162 
			 City of London 88,806 92,503 101,051 114,686 118,138 
			 Camden 218,845 237,742 248,752 287,458 307,631 
			 Greenwich 246,101 264,300 276,789 296,794 324,118 
			 Hackney 272,945 288,231 338,591 339,689 400,429 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 168,927 180,845 190,898 191,775 219,885 
			 Islington 243,470 257,123 272,635 299,696 288,636 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 136,376 142,022 152,609 173,460 176,760 
			 Lambeth 297,079 315,585 339,190 370,308 393,112 
			 Lewisham 271,900 283,458 293,515 326,711 355,875 
			 Southwark 313,860 326,016 351,218 371,584 406,544 
			 Tower Hamlets 310,219 335,064 359,807 386,475 430,373 
			 Wandsworth 229,475 240,694 248,308 268,124 282,588 
			 Westminster 223,983 234,166 248,985 274,489 280,944 
			 Barking and Dagenham 168,827 181,277 193,347 208,130 227,969 
			 Barnet 222,831 240,316 241,925 265,156 276,287 
			 Bexley 161,768 174,242 183,207 191,128 203,650 
			 Brent 250,397 269,426 276,662 314,888 333,664 
			 Bromley 184,021 198,772 199,956 211,995 229,316 
			 Croydon 243,635 266,718 288,307 296,725 333,921 
			 Ealing 248,310 268,568 277,684 282,222 309,671 
			 Enfield 240,111 264,089 275,061 290,542 305,520 
			 Haringey 270,816 296,350 301,816 323,742 324,119 
			 Harrow 140,587 151,243 160,383 170,315 185,440 
			 Havering 148,095 160,585 166,805 177,105 184,712 
			 Hillingdon 171,976 209,693 214,850 219,710 261,358 
			 Hounslow 185,410 198,506 205,749 212,975 235,712 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 86,752 94,245 96,829 105,524 112,258 
			 Merton 123,479 128,796 132,213 143,605 154,857 
			 Newham 335,547 362,671 391,428 420,178 447,495 
			 Redbridge 202,581 219,850 212,881 225,355 244,289 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 94,629 100,260 106,081 106,602 114,979 
			 Sutton 124,048 132,822 135,718 149,863 163,103 
			 Waltham Forest 229,063 248,061 263,757 264,014 293,244 
			 London total 8,911,906 9,921,984 10,627,379 11,603,157 13,369,759 
		
	
	Note:
	The data are taken from the RS (outturn) forms for all years except 2003–04 and 2004–05 when the data are taken from the RA (budget) form.

Parks

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the case for central Government funding for local parks.

Nick Raynsford: Central Government provides funding for local parks through the Environment, Protective and Cultural Services (EPCS) Block of the local government finance settlement. Following the recent Spending Review, the EPCS budget is due to increase by £888 million, or 8 per cent. between 2004–05 and 2007–08.
	In addition to this mainstream local government funding, local authorities are able to draw on other specific grants from central Government, and from the national lottery distributors.
	As with other local public services and facilities, it is appropriate for public parks to remain the responsibility of local authorities. They are best placed to determine local needs and priorities and to deal with day to day management and maintenance issues.

Rough Sleepers (York)

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been spent on assisting rough sleepers in York in each year since 1997; and how many rough sleepers this has (a) helped and (b) moved on to permanent accommodation.

Phil Hope: The information requested is tabled in the form of three tables.
	
		Table 1: Funding for rough sleepers from 1997–2004 £
		
			  Rough sleeper fund Homeless strategy— money used directly for rough sleepers Homeless strategy—other ODPM money used for HL prevention and implementation of strategy 
		
		
			 1997–98 — — — 
			 1998–99 (2)— (2)— (2)— 
			 1999–2000 (2)— (2)— (2)— 
			 2000–01 — — — 
			 2001–02 — — — 
			 2002–03 (3)233,625 — — 
			 2003–04 — (3)288,401 116,599 
			 2004–05 — (4)250,000 — 
		
	
	(2) Funding from Rough Sleepers Unit paid directly to projects and not via LA.
	(3) Actual.
	(4) Awarded.
	
		Table 2 
		
			  Rough sleeper counts (actuals) 
		
		
			 May 1997 23 
			 November 1999 24 
			 July 2000 6 
			 December 2000 4 
			 May 2001 0 
			 November 2001 8 
			 February 2002 3 
			 July 2003 3 
			 January 2004 5 
			 March 2004 5 
			 July 2004 4 
			 October 2004 1 
		
	
	
		Table 3: Number of rough sleepers moving into alternative accommodation (estimated figures based on sparse actuals)
		
			  Supported housing (drinkers hostels, shared housing and supported tenancies) CYC permanent Other (Private rented Sector, RSLs) 
		
		
			 1997–98 — Estimated that approximately 30 people pa moved into CYC tenancy Estimated that approximately 10 people pa moved into PRS 
			 1998–99 —   
			 1999–2000 —   
			 2000–01 —   
			 2001–02 —   
			 2002–03 50 25 Estimate 20 
			 2003–04(5) 58 42 40 
			 2004–05(6) 5 7 6 
			 2004–05(7) 50 40 25 
		
	
	(5) Estimates off two comprehensive statistics.
	(6) To date.
	(7) Annual predictions.

Social Housing

David Laws: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many social housing (a) starts and (b) completions there were in (i) England and (ii) each local authority area in England in each year from 1984; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: Information for England is tabled based on reported building inspections by local authorities and the National House-Building Council. Information for individual local authorities for 1999–2000 to 2002–03 is available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's web site (www.odpm.gov.uk) in the housing statistics section (live table 253 and publications, local housing statistics).
	The Sustainable Communities action plan set out the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's views on delivery of more affordable housing. Since 1997, funding for affordable housing has been doubled and the creation of 230,000 new affordable homes supported and over 9,000 key workers helped into home ownership in areas of high demand. The funding provided in the Spending Review will, along with efficiency improvements, produce 75,000 social rented homes and 40,000 homes for essential public sector workers and low cost home ownership over the three years to 2007–08.
	
		Social Housing(8) , (9)
		
			  (a) Starts (b) Completions 
		
		
			 1984–85 31,442 42,125 
			 1985–86 28,921 32,875 
			 1986–87 27,901 29,575 
			 1987–88 25,135 27,421 
			 1988–89 24,884 26,917 
			 1989–90 23,488 25,698 
			 1990–91 19,668 27,533 
			 1991–92 22,397 23,087 
			 1992–93 31,983 26,548 
			 1993–94 34,144 31,664 
			 1994–95 31,743 32,228 
			 1995–96 24,835 30,983 
			 1996–97 23,295 25,081 
			 1997–98 19,888 21,720 
			 1998–99 17,764 19,114 
			 1999–2000 16,186 17,188 
			 2000–01 13,132 16,669 
			 2001–02 11,228 13,234 
			 2002–03 11,178 13,441 
			 2003–04 12,663 13,823 
		
	
	(8) Local Authority and Registered Social Landlord(RSI) dwellings for rent
	(9) RSL dwellings tend to be undercounted by building inspectors as the correct tenure is not always known.

Social Housing

David Laws: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the 10 local authorities in the South West of England which have the highest waiting lists for social housing; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: Local authorities in England report the numbers of households on their housing waiting list (excluding tenants awaiting a transfer) as at 1 April in their annual Housing Investment programme return. Local authorities sometimes maintain the waiting list jointly with the Housing Association in their district. However, information is not held centrally where a Housing Association maintains a separate waiting list to the local authority.
	The latest information, for 2004, is listed in the following table for the ten local authorities in the South West of England with the highest number of households on the waiting list.
	
		
			  Local authority Households on the housing waiting list at 1 April 2004 
		
		
			 Bristol 11,632 
			 Plymouth 9,069 
			 Swindon 5,478 
			 South Gloucestershire 4,961 
			 Restormel 4,769 
			 Gloucester 3,934 
			 East Devon 3,930 
			 North Somerset 3,728 
			 Cheltenham 3,620 
			 Sedgemoor 3,495 
		
	
	Source:
	ODPM's Housing Investment Programme

Travellers

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his Department has conducted a survey of the needs of travellers.

Keith Hill: Research commissioned by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was carried out by Birmingham university and published in July 2003 which identified the level of need for further Gypsy and Traveller site provision. Amendments to the Housing Bill have also been tabled for debate at Report stage in the Other Place which will require local authorities to incorporate the needs of Gypsies and Travellers into their Housing Needs Assessment process.

TREASURY

Airport Duty

Colin Challen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much income the airport duty tax has raised in each year since it was introduced; and what its anticipated income will be in financial years (a) 2004–05, (b) 2005–06 and (c) 2006–07.

John Healey: Historic Air Passenger Duty revenue figures can be found in table 2.1 D of Financial Statistics published by the Office for National Statistics, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.
	Revenue estimates of all taxes and duties can be found in Table C8 of this year's Financial Statement and Budget Report.

Child Care

Karen Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether his Department's 10-year child care funding strategy will take into account the higher costs of providing child care in certain parts of the country;
	(2)  whether his Department's 10-year child care funding strategy will ensure ongoing revenue funding for child care;
	(3)  if he will amend the child care component of the working tax credit to take account of higher housing and child care costs in London.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government announced in the 2004 Spending Review its intention to publish a 10-year strategy for child care. The strategy, to be published alongside the pre-Budget report later this year, will consider a range of issues, including the child care element of working tax credit, variations in the cost of child care provision across the country and revenue funding.

Child Tax Credit (Carlisle)

Eric Martlew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in Carlisle have received child tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 15 October 2004
	I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wansdyke (Dan Norris) on 12 July 2004, Official Report, columns 922–23W.

Condoms

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was generated from the VAT levy on condoms in the last year for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: Customs do not collect data on VAT from individual goods and services.

Economic Activity (Yeovil)

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the economic activity rate was in Yeovil constituency in each year from 1985–86 to 2004–05.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Laws, dated 19 October 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about economic activity rates in Yeovil. (192065)
	The attached table gives the estimates of the economic activity rates in the Yeovil Parliamentary Constituency for the twelve months ending February each year from 1997 to 2003. Estimates for earlier periods are not available.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) are subject to sampling variability.
	
		Economic activity for working age(10) people resident in the Yeovil parliamentary constituency 12 months ending February each year from 1997 to 2003
		
			  Rate (percentage) 2 
		
		
			 1997 81.0 
			 1998 82.1 
			 1999 85.8 
			 2000 86.8 
			 2001 84.3 
			 2002 82.5 
			 2003 84.5 
		
	
	(10) Men aged 16 to 64 and women aged 16 to 59.
	(11) Working age economically active (i.e. employed plus unemployed) as a percentage of all persons of working age.
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey

Economic Statistics (Yorkshire)

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many children in (a) Yorkshire and Humber and (b) the City of York received child benefit (i) in 1997 and (ii) at the latest date for which figures are available; and what the weekly value of child benefit was in (A) 1997 and (B) October.

Dawn Primarolo: I understand from the Department for Work and Pensions that the earliest date for which figures below country level are available for the number of children for whom child benefit was paid is August 1999. At that date there were 1,130 thousand such children in Yorkshire and Humberside and 21,000 in the City of York constituency. The latest available figures, for November 2003, appear on the Inland Revenue website, at http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/child benefit/menu.htm
	When comparing these figures, note that between each August and November, the number of such children drops by around 2 per cent. This is because from early September each year awards no longer cover young people aged 16 to 18 unless they remain in full-time non-advanced education.
	In 1997–98 the weekly rate of child benefit was £11.05 for the first child and £9.00 for the second and subsequent children. The current rates are £16.50, and £11.05, respectively.

Emissions Trade Schemes

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the revenue implications for the Government of (a) the EU and (b) UK emissions trade schemes.

John Healey: The Government have yet to take final decisions on the implementation of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and therefore it is too early to say what the impact would be in terms of revenue to the Exchequer.
	In the year 2003–04, the UK ETS cost the Government £43 million in direct payments to the market participants.

Gangmaster Licensing Authority

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the data collated from the 46 ACU forms that are returned to the Inland Revenue Agricultural Compliance Unit by those using the services of a gangmaster or employment agency will be made available to the Gangmasters Licensing Authority that is to be established under the provisions of the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue can only release information to another Government Department where there is appropriate legal authority (a gateway) for it to do so. The Gangmaster Licensing Act contains such a gateway, which will allow the Inland Revenue to pass to the Gangmaster Licensing Authority information that relates to the operations of a person acting as a gangmaster.

Gas Prices

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the extra revenue the Exchequer will receive as a result of rising gas prices; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: Updated forecasts of the public finances incorporating the impact of higher gas prices will be published in the pre-Budget report later this year.

Hospices (VAT Relief)

Lady Hermon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to exempt (a) adult and (b) child hospices from the payment of VAT.

John Healey: The Government recognises the valuable contribution of hospices in providing high quality palliative care. The care services of a hospice are not chargeable with VAT and, in addition, charitable hospices benefit from a number of specific VAT zero rates on their purchases. However under our long-standing formal agreements with our European partners, we are permitted to keep our existing zero rates but may not extend them or introduce new ones.

Household Income (Tax Take)

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of household income was paid in national taxes by a household on average income where the household was a (a) single person of working age, (b) single pensioner, (c) childless couple of working age, (d) pensioner couple, (e) single parent with (i) one and (ii) two or more children and (f) couple with (A) one and (B) two or more children in (1) 1997 and (2) 2003–04.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Hugh Bayley, dated 19 October 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what percentage of household income was paid in national taxes by a household on average income where the household was a (a) single person of working age, (b) single pensioner, (c) childless couple of working age, (d) pensioner couple, (e) single parent with (i) one and (ii) two or more children and (f) couple with (A) one and (B) two or more children in (1) 1997 and (2) 2003–04 (191239).
	The proportion of household income that was paid in taxes in 1997–98 by household type can be obtained from Table 8 of "The effects of taxes and benefits on household income 1997–1998", published in Economic Trends (ONS), April 1999 and available on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics. gov.uk/articles/economic trends/taxes&%20benefits effects on household income 97–98.pdf.
	Similar information for 2002–03 (the latest year for which data are available) can be obtained from Table 23 of "The effects of taxes and benefits on household income, 2002–03", published on the National Statistics website on 6 May 2004 at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/taxesbenefits and in Economic Trends (ONS), June 2004. The analyses include measures of income inequality for households in the United Kingdom as a whole based on data from the Expenditure and Food Survey (the Family and Expenditure Survey in 1997–98). This is a sample survey covering about 6,000 to 7,000 households in the UK and sample sizes for sub groups of households are only sufficient to give approximate estimates.
	
		Table 8 (Appendix 1): Summary of the effects of taxes and benefits, by household type(12), 1997–98 Average per household (£ per year)
		
			  Retired households Non-Retired households 
			  1 adult Men 1 adult Women All 1 adult 2 or more adults 1 adult Men 1 adult Women All 1 adult 
		
		
			 Original income 5,006 2,568 3,219 9,693 15,030 11,662 13,793 
			 plus Cash benefits 4,690 4,992 4,911 6,656 1,695 2,015 1,812 
			 Gross income 9,696 7,560 8,130 16,349 16,725 13,677 15,605 
			 less Direct taxes and employees' NIC 1,349 870 998 2,249 3,731 2,890 3,422 
			 Disposable income 8,347 6,690 7,132 14,100 12,993 10,787 12,183 
			 
			 Equivalised disposable income 13,684 10,953 11,682 13,618 21,301 17,683 19,972 
			 less Indirect taxes 1,640 1,093 1,239 3,065 2,603 2,073 2,408 
			 Post-tax income 6,707 5,596 5,893 11,035 10,390 8,714 9,775 
			 plus Benefits in kind 1,930 2,363 2,247 3,240 762 831 787 
			 Final income 8,637 7,959 8,140 14,275 11,152 9,545 10,562 
		
	
	
		Average per household (£ per year)
		
			  Non-Retired households 
			  2 adults 3 or more adults 1 adult with children 2 adults with 1 child 2 adults with 2 children 2 adults with 3 or more children 3 or more adults with children All house-holds 
		
		
			 Original income 27,241 35,439 4,943 26,337 30,047 24,437 31,721 19,680 
			 plus Cash benefits 1,868 2,758 5,515 1,982 2,018 4,058 3,724 3,304 
			 Gross income 29,109 38,198 10,457 30,319 32,064 28,495 35,445 22,985 
			 less Direct taxes and employees' NIC 6,410 7,570 1,049 6,674 7,130 5,487 6,842 4,583 
			 Disposable income 22,699 30,628 9,408 23,646 24,934 23,007 28,604 18,402 
			  
			 Equivalised disposable income 22,179 19,981 9,578 19,383 17,295 13,255 15,343 17,196 
			 less Indirect taxes 4,429 6,414 2,243 4 657 4,714 4,599 6,883 3,717 
			 Post-tax income 18,270 24,214 7,164 18,989 20,219 18,409 21,721 14,685 
			 plus Benefits in kind 1,414 3,501 4,981 3,362 5,240 8,592 6,829 3,015 
			 Final income 19,684 27,715 12,145 22,351 25,459 27,001 28,550 17,700 
		
	
	(12) See Appendix 3 for definitions of retired households, adults and children.
	
		Table 23 (Appendix 1): Summary of the effects of taxes and benefits, by household type(13), 2002–03 Average per household (£ per year)
		
			  Retired households Non-Retired households 
			  1 adult Men 1 adult Women All 1 adult 2 or more adults 1 adult Men 1 adult Women All 1 adult 
		
		
			 Original income 5,811 3,693 4,211 10,900 19,411 16,552 18,259 
			 plus Cash benefits 5,797 6,403 6,255 8,432 1,729 2,259 1,942 
			 Gross income 11,609 10,096 10,466 19,332 21,140 18,811 20,201 
			 less Direct taxes and employees' NIC 1,329 939 1,034 2,400 4,599 3,961 4,342 
			 Disposable income 10,280 9,157 9,432 16,932 16,541 14,849 15,859 
			 
			 Equivalised disposable income 16,811 15,005 15,447 16,287 27,117 24,343 25,998 
			 less Indirect taxes 1,792 1,457 1,539 3,457 3,085 2,725 2,940 
			 Post-tax income 8,488 7,701 7,893 13,476 13,457 12,124 12,919 
			 plus Benefits in kind 3,092 3,526 3,420 4,983 897 1,062 963 
			 Final income 11,580 11,227 11,313 18,458 14,353 13,186 13,883 
		
	
	
		Average per household (£ per year)
		
			  Non-Retired households 
			  2 adults 3 or more adults 1 adult with children 2 adults with 1 child 2 adults with 2 children 2 adults with 3 or more children 3 or more adults with children All house-holds 
		
		
			 Original income 34,549 44,258 8,924 38,090 38,868 33,769 37,618 25,271 
			 plus Cash benefits 1,814 2,545 6,930 2,222 2,448 5,677 4,362 3,958 
			 Gross income 36,363 46,803 15,853 40,312 41,316 39,446 41,980 29,229 
			 less Direct taxes and employees' NIC 8,053 9,475 1,418 9,139 8,959 7,967 7,542 5,746 
			 Disposable income 28,310 37,327 14,435 31,172 32,356 31,478 34,438 23,483 
			  
			 Equivalised disposable income 27,613 24,060 14,478 25,589 22,344 18,025 17,782 21,899 
			 less Indirect taxes 5,303 7,397 3,034 5,911 5,983 6,128 6,961 4,481 
			 Post-tax income 23,007 29,931 11,402 25,261 26,374 25,350 27,477 19,002 
			 plus Benefits in kind 1,948 4,587 7,114 5,099 8,087 13,261 9,987 4,413 
			 Final income 24,955 34,517 18,516 30,360 34,461 38,612 37,464 23,415 
		
	
	(13) See Appendix 2 for definitions of retired households, adults and children.

Inheritance Tax

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what his estimate is of the number of estates on which inheritance tax was paid which were valued at (a) £250,000 to £300,000, (b) £300,000 to £400,000, (c) £400,000 to £500,000, (d) £500,000 to £750,000, (e) £750,000 to £1 million, (f) £1 million to £2 million, (g) £2 million to £5 million and (h) more than £5 million in each of the last three years;
	(2)  what his estimate is of the total number of estates (a) paying inheritance tax and (b) not paying inheritance tax in each year from 1984–85 to 2004–05; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The available information relating to estates notified for probate for deaths in 1998–99 to 2001–02 is published in Table 12.3 on the Inland Revenue website at: www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/inheritance tax/table 12–3.xls
	These estates represent about 40 per cent. of all UK estates. Data for earlier years is published in table 12.4 of Inland Revenue Statistics 2000 and earlier editions, copies of which are in the House of Commons Library.

Inheritance Tax

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the total cost of raising the inheritance tax-exempt threshold to (a) £500,000 and (b) £1 million; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The full year cost of raising the threshold to (a) £500,000 and (b) £1 million would be £1.6 billion and £2.5 billion respectively in 2004–05 terms.

Inland Revenue Office (Preston)

David Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether letters from hon. Members on behalf of constituents on tax credit matters should be addressed to the Inland Revenue in Preston; what procedures are involved in the Preston office dealing with such correspondence; and whether it is the practice to acknowledge such correspondence once received.

Dawn Primarolo: If hon. Members have a query about tax credits they may phone the Tax Credit Office's MP's Hotline—the numbers have been circulated to hon. Members—or write to the Customer Relations Team at Tax Credit Office, Preston, PR1 OSB.
	The Tax Credit Office will acknowledge receipt of Members' letters and aim to reply in full to 80 per cent. of letters within 15 working days.

Insolvency Act

Julian Brazier: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) statutory demands, (b) bankruptcy petitions and (c) winding-up petitions raised in accordance with the provisions of the Insolvency Act 1986 by the Inland Revenue or HM Customs and Excise, which include estimated assessments contrary to section 267 of the Act, have been issued since 1986.

Dawn Primarolo: Customs and Excise and Inland Revenue do not consider there to be any conflict between section 267 of the Insolvency Act 1986 and the use of estimated assessments, either wholly or in part, as the basis of a petition debt. The Revenue Departments take the view that none of the petitions so raised are contrary to section 267 of the Act. Neither of the Revenue Departments maintain statistics regarding the component parts of a petition debt.

Manufacturing (Shrewsbury and Atcham)

Paul Marsden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the change in the number of people employed in manufacturing industry in Shrewsbury and Atcham has been since 1997.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Paul Marsden, dated 19 October 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about numbers employed in the manufacturing industry in Shrewsbury and Atcham. (192292)
	The attached table shows the information requested, relating to jobs in Shrewsbury and Atcham, for 1997 and the latest year available, 2002.
	
		Numbers of employees(14) working in the manufacturing sector with workplace in Shrewsbury and Atcham parliamentary constituency: 1997 and 2002
		
			  Numbers of employees 
		
		
			 1997 4,500 
			 2002 4,600 
			 Change from 1997 to 2002(15) 100 
		
	
	(14) Employee jobs only, not self-employed jobs.
	(15) The 1997 to 2002 change has been rounded to the nearest hundred separately from rounded levels for 1997 and 2002.
	Sources:
	1997; Annual Employment Survey, rescaled.
	2002; Annual Business Inquiry

National Savings

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amounts of National Savings remained unclaimed in each of the last five years.

Stephen Timms: "Unclaimed monies" in the National Savings and Investments Product Accounts refer to monies where: the product has been redeemed by the Treasury; monthly interest or prizes are due; or to un-cashed savings stamps; and where the sums are transferable to the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt. The totals unclaimed at 31 March in each of the last five years are as follows:
	
		
			  (£ million) 
		
		
			 2000 21.6 
			 2001 28.9 
			 2002 30.2 
			 2003 31.9 
			 2004 (unaudited) 33.6

Oil (Tax Yield)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax oil generates at (a) $30, (b) $40, (c) $45, (d) $50 and (e) $55 US dollars per barrel.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Waveney (Mr. Blizzard) on 21 June 2004, Official Report, column 1205W.
	Updated forecasts of the public finances incorporating the impact of higher oil prices will be published in the pre-Budget report later this year.

Oil Prices (Revenue Projections)

George Young: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what difference he expects in his projection of revenue received by the Treasury in this financial year as a consequence of the rise in oil prices.

John Healey: Updated forecasts of the public finances incorporating the impact of higher oil prices will be published in the pre-Budget report later this year.

Organic Imports

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were prosecuted in the last 12 months for offences relating to the import through airports of banned organic materials.

Dawn Primarolo: Since October 2003 HM Customs and Excise prosecutions in relation to animals, plants or their products imported through airports (but excluding cases involving illegal drugs or any counterfeit organic materials) have involved:
	four people prosecuted under the products of animal origin regulations, and
	one person prosecuted under endangered species regulations.
	All were convicted.

Personal Allowances

Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost in 2004–05 would have been of giving couples the option of transferring to a partner any unused part of the basic personal allowance of £4,745 if relief were restricted to a maximum of 22 per cent. and the option was restricted to (a) married couples with a child aged four years or under, (b) married couples with a child aged 14 years or under, (c) married or cohabiting couples, living together as husband and wife, with a child aged four years or under and (d) married or cohabiting couples, living together as husband and wife, with a child aged 14 years and under.

Dawn Primarolo: The cost in 2004–05 through lower income tax of giving couples the option of transferring to a partner the full basic personal allowance of £4,745 if relief were restricted to a maximum of 22 per cent. for the four options are listed.
	
		Cost in 2004–05 per annum
		
			 Option £ million 
		
		
			 (a) Married couples with a child aged four years or under 260 
			 (b) Married couples with a child aged 14 years or under 660 
			 (c) Married or cohabiting couples, living together as  husband and wife, with a child aged four years or under 320 
			 (d) Married or cohabiting couples, living together as  husband and wife, with a child aged 14 years and under 740 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures rounded to the nearest £10 million. They exclude any estimate of behavioural response to the tax change.

Private Medical Insurance

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the percentage of people in the South East Government Office region who have private medical insurance cover.

John Hutton: I have been asked to reply.
	No estimate has been made of the percentage of people in the South East who have private medical insurance cover.

Tax Credits/Overpayments

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether arrangements in place for avoiding hardship in recovering tax credit overpayments dating back two years or more will continue.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue's Code of Practice 26 "What happens if we have paid you too much tax credit?" sets out the Inland Revenue's approach to tax credits overpayments and the maximum amounts by which current year payments will be reduced to recover overpaid tax credits from one or more previous years. Where payments are not continuing, overpaid tax credits may be repaid over 12 months.

Tax Credits/Overpayments

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he is taking to deal with the backlog in working tax credit overpayment referrals; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Tax Credit Office examines each case where an overpayment has been consistent with code of Practice 26, "What Happens if We Have Paid You Too Much Tax Credit?". Code of Practice 26 can be found on the Inland Revenue website. The Tax Credit Office continually reviews its procedures with a view to minimizing turnaround times.

Tax Credits/Overpayments

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to improve the working tax credit administrative system to reduce the number of overpayments.

Dawn Primarolo: The tax credits system is designed to be flexible: claimants' payments can be adjusted in year if their circumstances or income change.
	The Inland Revenue's Code of Practice 26, "What Happens if We Have Paid You Too Much Tax Credit?", sets out the Inland Revenue's approach to tax credits overpayments.

Tax Credits/Overpayments

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are receiving tax credits in Yeovil constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families living in the Maidenhead constituency are (a) eligible for and (b) in receipt of (i) working tax credit, (ii) the child care element of working tax credit and (iii) child tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Members to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wansdyke (Dan Norris) on 12 July 2004, Official Report, columns 922–23W.
	No estimates of the numbers benefiting from the child care element are available at local authority level.

Tax Credits/Overpayments

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what his estimate is of the numbers of families who were entitled to the child tax credit but did not receive it in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many households received (a) working tax credit and (b) child tax credit in (i) 2002, (ii) 2003 and (iii) 2004.

Dawn Primarolo: The child and working tax credits have been available from 2003–04. Estimates of the number of recipients are shown in the various issues of "Child and Working Tax Credits. Quarterly Statistics", which can be found on the Inland Revenue website at: www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/menu.htm
	No estimate of the number of families eligible for but not claiming child tax credit will be available until household survey data for 2003–04 have been analysed.

Tax Credits/Overpayments

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the number of overpayments of tax credits exceeding (a) £250 per year, (b) £500 per year, (c) £1,000 per year, (d) £2,000 per year and (e) £5,000 per year for (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 2003–04; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Isle of Wight (Mr. Turner) on 11 October 2004, Official Report, columns 81–82W.

Tax Credits/Overpayments

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his assessment is of the reasons for the overpayment of tax credits in 2003–04; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue's Code of Practice 26, "What Happens if We Have Paid You Too Much Tax Credit?", sets out the Inland Revenue's approach to tax credits overpayments.

Tax Credits/Overpayments

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons the tax credit system provides for no minimum protected level of tax credit payment, where overpayments from previous years have to be recovered; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue's Code of Practice 26, "What Happens if We Have Paid You Too Much Tax Credit?", sets out the Inland Revenue's approach to tax credits overpayments and the maximum amounts by which current year payments will be reduced, depending on the size of the award, to recover overpaid tax credits from the previous year.

Tax Credits/Overpayments

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what his estimate is of the number of tax credit awards made since 2002 which have contained errors due to the misreading of the completed claims forms by Inland Revenue computers; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his estimate is of the number of Inland Revenue errors leading to inaccurate tax credit awards for 2003–04; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what his estimate is of the error rate for tax credit awards for (a) 2002–03, (b) 2003–04 and (c) 2004–05; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for North Norfolk (Norman Lamb) on 22 March 2004, Official Report, column 666W.

Tax Credits/Overpayments

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to waive the first £1,000 of overpayments of tax credits for 2003–04 and 2004–05; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue's Code of Practice 26, "What Happens if We Have Paid You Too Much Tax Credit?", sets out the Inland Revenue's approach to tax credits overpayments.

Tax Credits/Overpayments

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credit claim forms TC846 have been (a) printed and (b) distributed in (i) 2003–04 and (ii) 2004–05 to date; whether shortages of these forms have arisen; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Tax credit claimants can download this form from the Inland Revenue's website, or request it from the Tax Credits Helpline. Information on the number of forms printed or distributed is not readily available. However, there have been no shortages of these forms.

Tax Policy Staff

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the total number of staff is with responsibility for tax policy, development and maintenance in Her Majesty's Treasury;
	(2)  what the total administration cost was for the development and maintenance of tax policy in Her Majesty's Treasury in 2003–04;
	(3)  what the total employment costs were for personnel involved in the development and maintenance of tax policy in Her Majesty's Treasury in 2003–04.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Gentleman to my statement on 11 October 2004, Official Report, column 1WS, and to Schedule 5 of the HM Treasury Resource Accounts 2003–04 (HC 920), a copy of which can be found in the Library.

Tax Policy Staff

Karen Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of parents in (a) London and (b) the UK are (i) eligible for and (ii) receiving the child care element of the working tax credit.

Joan Humble: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of parents in Blackpool, North and Fleetwood are (a) eligible for and (b) receiving the child care element of the working tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: For each region, the latest number of families receiving child benefit is shown in "Child Benefit Statistics. Geographical analyses. November 2003"; and the number benefiting from the child care element is shown in "Child and Working Tax Credits. Quarterly Statistics" for each quarter up to April 2004. These documents appear on the Inland Revenue website, www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats at the pages/personal-tax-credits/menu.htm and /child benefit/menu.htm, respectively.
	No estimates are available of these numbers below the regional level, nor of the number of families eligible to benefit from the child care element.

Tax Policy Staff

Colin Challen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people classed as disabled have claimed working tax credit in (a) Morley and Rothwell and (b) England; and what the average claim was in each case.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of families in England benefiting from the disabled worker element of working tax credit is shown at Table 8.3 in the various issues of "Child and Working Tax Credits Quarterly Statistics". These can be found on the Inland Revenue website at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/menu.htm.
	The number of cases in the sample used to compile these figures is insufficient to provide reliable estimates for each constituency.
	The value of the element was £2,040 per disabled worker in 2003–04 and is £2,100 in 2004–05. Most benefiting families will benefit from the element by the full amount for the period for which it satisfies the qualifying conditions for the element.

Unemployment Benefit

Tom Cox: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are claiming benefit relating to unemployment in the Greater London area.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 19 October 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on the number of people claiming benefit relating to unemployment in the Greater London area. (192679)
	In September 2004 there were 160,300 people resident in the Greater London region claiming jobseeker's allowance (JSA) benefits. The data are seasonal adjusted.

DEFENCE

Al Yamamah

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to make the 1992 National Audit Office Report into Al Yamamah publicly available; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 February 2003, Official Report, column 735W, to the hon. Member for Mid-Dorset and North Poole (Mrs. Brooke).

Gibraltar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy vessels have used the Gibraltar station in each of the last three years; and what repairs were carried out on them.

Adam Ingram: For the calendar year 2001, there were 47 visits by Royal Navy (RN) and Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessels to Gibraltar. During 2002 there were 53 visits while 52 visits were undertaken during 2003. To date this year (up until 15 October) there have been 27 visits to Gibraltar by RN and RFA vessels. Ships often undertake periods of routine maintenance when in port and Gibraltar is no exception. Usually this is undertaken by the ship's engineering staff but where more extensive maintenance is required, or where urgent defects need to be rectified, a team of in-house specialists may be deployed from the United Kingdom or the work may be contracted out. The repair to the pintle weld in HMS Tireless alongside in Gibraltar during 2000–01 is a well publicised example. Records of routine repairs carried out in Gibraltar are, however, not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Battle of Trafalgar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are for the national celebration of the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar in 2005.

Estelle Morris: I have been asked to reply.
	SeaBritain 2005 is taking the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar as its inspiration to celebrate Britain's relationship with the sea. In partnership with the National Maritime Museum, VisitBritain, the Official Nelson Commemorations Committee, the Royal Navy, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and other national and local organisations, SeaBritain's Trafalgar Festival will celebrate the bicentenary with events and activities in the summer and autumn of 2005. As part of this, the Royal Navy's Trafalgar 200 programme will feature an International Fleet Review at Spithead, the International Festival of the Sea at Portsmouth and, on the anniversary day of 21 October 2005, a commemorative dinner in HMS Victory. A service of remembrance at St. Paul's Cathedral and celebrations in Trafalgar Square will follow on 23 October. The Trafalgar Festival will also include recreations of the delivery of Vice-Admiral Collingwood's Trafalgar Dispatch to London and Nelson's waterborne funeral procession from Greenwich to Whitehall, commemorative tree-plantings for schools in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, concerts, services, regattas, and exhibitions. SeaBritain 2005 encourages all to take part in the Festival or to develop their own events under its umbrella, with the aim of leaving a legacy that will stimulate interest in the sea and inland waters. Full details of all events planned as part of SeaBritain 2005, including the Trafalgar Festival, can be found on the SeaBritain web-site at www.SeaBritain2005.com

Bowman Radios

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the field trials of the Bowman Radio; whether problems have been experienced; and when he expects the trials to be complete.

Adam Ingram: The reason we invest heavily in rigorous test and trials programmes is to ensure the Armed Forces get equipment that is fit for purpose and is as safe to use as is reasonably possible. The aim of subjecting a piece of equipment to a test and trials programme is to identify any weaknesses in a non-operational environment and to determine what cost-effective modifications might be required before it is taken into service.
	We continue to make good progress in introducing the Bowman tactical communications system to all three Armed Services as planned over the next three years. The programme is delivering its full operational capability incrementally and each stage is subject to a comprehensive test and trials programme. Trials completed so far have been successful in their aim of identifying what works well, and what requires further attention. We expect the trials programme to continue until full operational capability is delivered to support land, amphibious and air manoeuvre warfare.

Cut and Sew Tender

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he made of the cost to his Department of (a) granting to Cookson and Clegg Category One of the contract for the Cut and Sew Tender DC4 BESL/1002 and granting the other four categories to E Walters and (b) placing the contract with Cooneen Watts and Stone.

Adam Ingram: The selected contractor was assessed as having the best overall ranking against the published award criteria. They also offered the best price. There was, therefore, no need to estimate the difference in cost to the Ministry of Defence of the split award suggested.

Cut and Sew Tender

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has (a) seen and (b) tested camouflage fabric intended to be produced under the Cut and Sew DC4 BESL/1002 contract; and what assessment he has made of the ability of the Chinese company concerned to supply fabric to the correct specification.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has not yet seen or tested the final fabric that the prime contractor intends to use to produce the items required against this contract.
	The Chinese sub-contractor has not been directly assessed by the MOD in respect of its ability to supply fabric to the correct specification. This is the responsibility of our prime contractor with whom we maintain a close dialogue.

Deepcut Barracks

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of commissioning polling questions to determine public attitudes towards deaths in army barracks; how many and what proportion of questions refer to Deepcut barracks; and if he will place (a) the text of these questions and (b) the results of the polling when available in the Library.

Adam Ingram: A corporate level survey on public perceptions of the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces undertaken in December 2003 included one question (Q52) relating to the deaths at Deepcut. The results of this survey were placed in the Library of the House following a written statement by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State (Mr. Caplin) on 30 April 2004 Official Report, columns 65–66WS.We are not aware of any specific polling questions on public attitudes towards deaths in Army barracks. However, two surveys commissioned by the Army have asked members of the public questions relating to the Deepcut issue and copies of the results of these are being placed in the Library of the House today.
	The cost of these surveys is withheld under Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (commercial confidences).

Former Service Personnel (Employment)

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what records he maintains of job placements obtained by the Army for former service personnel.

Adam Ingram: None. The Army provides resettlement advice to service personnel but does not obtain job placements for them. Service personnel have responsibility for finding their own employment.

Future Rapid Effects System

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Future Rapid Effects System requirement includes a requirement for a multi-feed processing system and a real time intelligence capability similar to that envisaged as part of the US FCS programme.

Adam Ingram: The Future Rapid Effect System requirement is for a family of fighting platforms (including a range of Ground Manoeuvre Reconnaissance roles), which only when integrated with a variety of other capabilities produces a complete system of systems. It will seek to make full use of any intelligence-gathering capabilities that are, or become, available. However, the project is still in the early stages of its Assessment Phase and therefore the precise nature of the interface with other capabilities is not yet determined. The Assessment Phase will consider any relevant comparisons with the US PCS programme, along with other similar programmes.

Future Rapid Effects System

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultation the Government has had with European Governments about the Future Rapid Effects System requirement and about the possibility of collaboration to meet this requirement.

Adam Ingram: We are already exploring areas of common interest for co-operative activities with Sweden on its SEP concept, and sharing information on studies carried out to date. Detailed studies during the Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) initial Assessment Phase will investigate whether international collaboration offers a potential solution for FRES.

Helicopter Procurement

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on future helicopter procurement; and what the estimated cost of the replacement for (a) Lynx, (b) Puma and (c) Gazelle is.

Adam Ingram: As we announced in the July Supplement to the Defence White Paper "Delivering Security in a Changing World: Future Capabilities", we are reviewing thoroughly our overall helicopter capability requirements and our forward plans. We expect to have a clearer way forward by summer next year. Over the next ten years, we plan to invest some £3 billion in helicopter platforms to replace and enhance our existing capability. This substantial investment offers an opportunity to maximise efficiencies and coherence across our future helicopter fleet in the key capability areas of lift, reconnaissance and attack, which will be central to future expeditionary operations.

HMCS Chicoutimi

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the circumstances surrounding the (a) sale, (b) refit and (c) recent accident involving HMCS Chicoutimi.

Adam Ingram: In 1993 the then Government decided, as part of its Strategic Defence Review, to withdraw the four Upholder Submarines from service. The vessels were actively marketed to overseas Governments and in 1998 the United Kingdom agreed a lease-to-buy arrangement with the Canadian Government.
	The submarines were refurbished to meet all Royal Navy operational standards before handover to the Canadians. The submarines also received minor equipment updates and modifications to meet Canadian requirements.
	The fourth submarine, HMS Upholder, was accepted by, and handed over to Canada on 2 October 2004, when she became HMCS Chicoutimi. She began her transit to Halifax, Nova Scotia from the Faslane Submarine Base in Scotland on 4 October. A fire broke out onboard HMCS Chicoutimi when she was some 120 miles west of the Irish coast. A full rescue and recovery was initiated and coordinated by the UKMOD's Fleet Operations at Northwood. HMS Montrose, who sailed from Faslane, was the first maritime unit on the scene. There were nine casualties from smoke inhalation. Three of these gave cause for concern and were evacuated to Sligo Hospital; sadly one of the casualties, Lt(N) Chris Saunders, died while the evacuation was under way.
	Despite extremely difficult weather conditions, HMCS Chicoutimi was taken under tow and arrived in Faslane on 10 October. The Canadian Authorities are now assessing the damage to the submarine and have convened a Board of Inquiry to determine the cause of the accident.

Medical Downgrading

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) officers and (b) other ranks in each service were medically downgraded as unfit for front-line duties at 1 April in each of the last five years; in how many cases (i) the downgrading was attributable to service and (ii) the injuries were (A) temporary and (B) permanent; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: Information on medical downgradings is set out in the table.
	Information on whether medical downgradings have been attributable to Service could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		UK regular forces medically downgraded 1
		
			  July 2001 April 2002 
			  Total Permanent Temporary Total Permanent Temporary 
		
		
			 Officers   
			 RN(17) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RM(17) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Army3,4 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RAF(20) 580 230 320 580 230 340 
			 Other ranks
			 RN(17) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RM(17) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Army3,4 9,650 n/a n/a 10,210 n/a n/a 
			 RAF(20) 3,360 690 2,660 3,390 740 2,650 
		
	
	
		UK regular forces medically downgraded 1
		
			  April 2003 April 2004 
			  Total Permanent Temporary Total Permanent Temporary 
		
		
			 Officers   
			 RN(17) 280 30 250 290 40 250 
			 RM(17) 20 (21)— 10 20 (21)— 20 
			 Army3,4 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RAF(20) 610 220 390 630 230 400 
			 Other ranks
			 RN(17) 2,190 260 1,930 2,480 300 2,180 
			 RM(17) 560 200 360 720 200 520 
			 Army3,4 11,990 n/a n/a 12,530 n/a n/a 
			 RAF(20) 3,610 900 2,710 3,840 910 2,930 
		
	
	(16) Data for medically downgraded personnel within the Royal Navy and Royal Marines is not available before April 2003.
	(17) Army Officer data is not available from April 2001 due to a coding error. This error has now been rectified and new data should be available from August 2004 (1 July position).
	(18) The Army does not categorise medical downgrading as either permanent or temporary.
	(19) RAF totals include Officers and Other Ranks classed as "other".
	(20) Denotes zero or rounded to zero.
	Note:
	N/a denotes not available.

Nuclear Submarine Bases

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list fires that have occurred at the nuclear submarine bases at (a) Faslane and (b) Coulport since 1 January 2003; and if he will make a statement on the dangers posed to these bases from fires.

Adam Ingram: Since January 2003, there have been nine minor fires at HM Naval Base Clyde's sites at Faslane and Coulport. All were extinguished promptly and posed no threat to personnel, equipment or facilities, including ships and submarines. The details are as follows:
	
		Faslane
		
			 Date Incident 
		
		
			 September 2003 Timber frame onboard a vessel set alight by an electrical welding heating blanket 
			 January 2004 Small electrical fire in auxiliary machinery space onboard a vessel. 
			 March 2004 Small fire caused by sparks from grinding equipment onboard a vessel 
			 July 2004 Small switchboard fire onboard a vessel 
		
	
	
		Coulport
		
			 Date Incident 
		
		
			 September 2003 Small fire in staff restaurant 
			 December 2003 Small fire in the engine compartment of a vehicle caused by faulty wiring 
			 December 2003 Fire in a waste bin outside a building 
			 February 2004 Leaves ignited by welding equipment 
			 March 2004 Small fire in cigarette disposal bin 
		
	
	In addition, there were 13 minor incidents (four at Faslane and nine at Coulport) involving overheating, smoke or the smell of burning from equipment, which required the deployment of fire prevention equipment or the isolation of the equipment to prevent further overheating. All were promptly dealt with before a fire developed.
	As well as being the homeport of the Vanguard and Swiftsure Class submarines, HM Naval Base Clyde is also a large industrial site and home to a large number of service personnel. As such, it is operated to the highest safety standards, which includes a regime of continuing safety improvements. It benefits from its own Defence Fire Service, and extensive and sensitive fire detection systems. These ensure that all incidents are responded to promptly and minimise the risk to personnel, equipment and facilities.

Overseas Postings (Armed Services)

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in which overseas countries members of HM Services have served at any time during 2004.

Adam Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Private Charlie Sellar

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the result was of the investigation into the circumstances of the death of Private Charlie Sellar of the 1st Battalion Duke of Wellington Regiment in Germany in February.

Adam Ingram: Private Sellar was struck by a train on the Eversburg-Osnabruck railway line on 31 January 2004. A coroner's inquest is awaited.

RAF Lyneham

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with Virgin Atlantic about further usage of RAF Lyneham.

Margaret Beckett: I have been asked to reply.
	None.

SFOR

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether UK military personnel will be participating in the SFOR mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina at the end of 2004 under an EU operation; and if he will make a statement on the composition of the UK contribution.

Adam Ingram: NATO has agreed that the SFOR mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina will terminate in December 2004. The EU will then launch its mission in Bosnia, named Operation Althea, under the Berlin Plus arrangements. This EU mission will work alongside the continuing but limited NATO role in Bosnia—NATO HQ Sarajevo. The EU will have responsibility for the main peace stabilisation role in Bosnia, with NATO focussing on defence outreach and some operational tasks, including support of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.
	The UK contribution to Althea will be approximately 1,000. The UK is taking the first lead of Althea, providing the EU Force Commander, Major General David Leakey. There are six UK personnel planned to be in the NATO HQ Sarajevo.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Antisocial Behaviour

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Antisocial Behaviour Plan.

Hazel Blears: The Home Office published "Together: Tackling Antisocial Behaviour" the Government's Action Plan on 14 October 2003. The Action Plan sets out the priority areas for action for reducing antisocial behaviour over the next two-three years. Key areas for intervention include: Nuisance neighbours, environmental crime and begging. 10 areas of the country have been chosen as Trailblazers to develop best practice in these areas.
	Through the TOGETHER campaign the Antisocial Behaviour Unit are working to improve performance across England and Wales by providing funding to every Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP), a TOGETHER Academy and a TOGETHER ActionLine, to offer advice and information on all antisocial behaviour related matters.

Asylum Seekers

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of asylum seekers was to each local authority in each year since 1997.

Nick Raynsford: The information requested has been tabled as follows.
	
		Local authority net current expenditure on asylum seekers—1998–99 to 2004–05 Figures shown in £000
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Greater London Authority — — 0 0 0 0 0 
			 City of London 383 1,016 2,260 2,063 2,088 1,923 1,241 
			 Camden 8,957 9,917 11,039 9,588 7,860 7,172 5,715 
			 Greenwich 0 5,225 8,729 8,789 10,193 8,181 8,824 
			 Hackney 7,451 0 13,792 14,449 16,331 12,906 12,961 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 9,942 0 16,073 16,089 15,571 11,484 11,445 
			 Islington 12,694 0 26,808 22,718 19,515 22,580 6,048 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 7,798 11,051 13,543 10,627 8,711 7,294 3,214 
			 Lambeth 10,658 20,301 21,266 21,932 19,856 23,047 22,739 
			 Lewisham 6,003 7,558 11,066 12,259 10,357 8,286 5,604 
			 Southwark 11,430 17,782 26,374 23,080 16,629 16,567 17,862 
			 Tower Hamlets 0 470 6,615 7,074 6,343 4,078 2,938 
			 Wandsworth 4,150 5,309 6,943 6,031 5,991 5,656 2,789 
			 Westminster 11,653 14,839 17,744 14,106 11,841 10,020 4,137 
			 Barking and Dagenham 6,835 13,032 14,302 14,477 14,188 14,500 14,377 
			 Barnet 5,193 6,686 7,410 8,396 7,144 8,863 6,488 
			 Bexley 681 1,508 2,268 1,995 1,685 1,734 1,531 
			 Brent 7,794 10,559 11,229 9,731 7,157 10,571 8,882 
			 Bromley 1,665 1,648 3,693 2,879 2,245 2,603 2,664 
			 Croydon 4,638 4,433 6,145 10,116 12,629 13,504 13,598 
			 Ealing 4,527 325 8,505 7,207 5,965 2,000 567 
			 Enfield 4,110 8,235 11,211 14,938 12,910 12,309 3,819 
			 Haringey 10,723 20,818 34,576 40,391 32,057 26,809 17,030 
			 Harrow 2,349 4,154 5,802 4,576 3,626 3,033 3,107 
			 Havering 594 3,529 4,020 3,176 2,639 2,503 578 
			 Hillingdon 4,673 11,903 0 11,697 15,617 16,350 17,819 
			 Hounslow 1,087 5,847 5,751 4,613 4,315 4,066 4,117 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 1,140 1,522 1,953 2,228 2,352 2,481 2,730 
			 Merton 2,327 4,165 5,480 5,343 3,717 4,030 1,670 
			 Newham 12,901 21,260 24,438 23,249 20,866 18,332 18,348 
			 Redbridge 2,359 7,318 12,954 10,591 8,514 5,954 5,136 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 0 0 0 10,993 7,785 5,268 4,640 
			 Sutton 417 1,220 4,403 2,291 3,070 2,436 2,166 
			 Waltham Forest 4,516 0 13,063 14,461 14,064 13,151 5,285 
			 
			 Barnsley 31 63 923 528 1,837 1,784 347 
			 Birmingham 1,242 2,515 6,596 3,737 2,674 4,015 3,468 
			 Bolton 13 0 168 139 172 0 60 
			 Bradford 120 163 523 -451 -69 182 182 
			 Bury 17 160 317 167 61 815 817 
			 Calderdale 40 93 396 29 78 29 71 
			 Coventry 0 347 966 1,475 2,502 2,555 1,987 
			 Doncaster 16 1,053 556 -29 84 292 91 
			 Dudley 0 94 226 193 138 1,869 1,617 
			 Gateshead 18 50 333 831 345 147 118 
			 Kirklees 71 276 936 1,427 -295 1,850 1,731 
			 Knowsley 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 
			 Leeds 0 343 -727 -1,554 478 1,141 26 
			 Liverpool 133 411 300 38 174 2,067 2,306 
			 Manchester 1,278 3,039 7,258 15,708 18,630 5,554 6,210 
			 Newcastle-upon-Tyne 142 490 2,679 2,164 4,092 12,704 14,390 
			 North Tyneside 0 32 741 1,063 1,672 1,526 1,835 
			 Oldham 9 12 0 197 0 180 379 
			 Rochdale 0 110 403 1,301 1,567 1,545 1,453 
			 Rotherham 3 71 88 1,054 14 950 1,325 
			 Salford 44 189 884 1,858 1,875 2,256 2,073 
			 Sandwell 137 531 3,018 4,198 3,556 5,042 4,399 
			 Sefton 46 39 306 282 206 234 92 
			 Sheffield 1,008 2,570 5,915 4,468 3,717 3,430 1,954 
			 Solihull 15 44 309 635 944 569 1,840 
			 South Tyneside 22 37 140 72 36 8 32 
			 St. Helens 0 0 13 5 9 9 3 
			 Stockport 64 173 612 927 1,147 246 334 
			 Sunderland 10 85 360 2,797 139 127 101 
			 Tameside 0 47 251 155 142 147 127 
			 Trafford 0 876 739 864 872 873 853 
			 Wakefield 74 406 1,331 1,677 1,725 2,150 1,781 
			 Walsall 0 99 243 95 1,671 179 1,870 
			 Wigan 0 24 543 1,006 980 1,269 1,314 
			 Wirral 1,178 0 0 18 12 0 25 
			 Wolverhampton 0 76 488 -306 -394 -123 -194 
			 
			 Bath and North East Somerset UA 11 40 91 47 -828 10 26 
			 Blackburn with Darwen UA 11 30 177 694 933 1,043 1,059 
			 Blackpool UA 0 31 151 285 141 189 144 
			 Bournemouth UA 40 277 1,260 1,362 1,439 1,279 657 
			 Bracknell Forest UA 20 12 56 84 106 67 76 
			 Brighton and Hove UA 287 818 2,071 1,788 1,564 1,359 1,385 
			 Bristol UA 496 1,183 2,269 1,663 1,648 2,025 2,087 
			 City of Nottingham UA 65 298 1,073 1,105 956 1,111 943 
			 Darlington UA 0 8 6 20 8 10 10 
			 Derby City UA 16 203 1,345 1,123 906 950 588 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire UA 7 787 159 60 46 50 50 
			 Halton UA 0 0 29 17 10 0 0 
			 Hartlepool UA 0 0 0 0 0 170 165 
			 Herefordshire UA 14 21 31 15 10 0 0 
			 Isle of Wight UA 0 0 16 19 24 7 5 
			 Kingston upon Hull UA 85 525 896 524 785 461 494 
			 Leicester City UA 297 1,106 2,959 1,380 1,484 1,100 1,086 
			 Luton UA 273 1,837 4,746 4,715 3,940 4,227 3,133 
			 Middlesbrough UA 0 139 933 1,245 1,048 393 1,005 
			 Milton Keynes UA 292 279 565 1,324 1,187 1,016 784 
			 North East Lincolnshire UA 16 477 976 702 456 641 485 
			 North Lincolnshire UA 1 16 38 33 38 38 51 
			 North Somerset UA 14 78 192 111 103 125 110 
			 Peterborough UA 49 236 907 1,071 1,790 698 1,189 
			 Plymouth UA 42 90 237 178 184 172 185 
			 Poole UA 27 84 128 48 164 59 67 
			 Portsmouth UA 80 617 2,266 1,425 1,124 1,545 517 
			 Reading UA 7 1,353 3,768 3,784 3,115 2,481 2,708 
			 Redcar and Cleveland UA 86 176 1,274 1,292 1,098 181 269 
			 Rutland UA 23 47 53 54 35 60 60 
			 Slough UA 1,628 6,417 11,716 6,572 4,856 3,304 2,243 
			 South Gloucestershire UA 37 159 207 172 191 170 163 
			 Southampton UA 32 534 3,323 3,824 4,377 914 4,613 
			 Southend-on-Sea UA 258 0 2,602 2,675 2,321 2,927 2,094 
			 Stockton-on-Tees UA 20 21 107 45 84 396 507 
			 Stoke-on-Trent UA 64 97 438 1,231 1,287 1,383 1,551 
			 Swindon UA 122 407 925 884 859 869 912 
			 Telford and the Wrekin UA 0 47 136 138 131 117 118 
			 The Medway Towns UA 196 0 426 174 135 0 0 
			 Thurrock UA 87 1,567 2,623 2,869 3,655 2,694 2,944 
			 Torbay UA 0 6 2 16 0 0 0 
			 Warrington UA 13 88 102 98 80 9 30 
			 West Berkshire UA 6 19 78 188 420 37 27 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead UA 30 76 127 85 232 100 128 
			 Wokingham UA 26 87 118 122 82 77 0 
			 York UA 2 12 40 49 61 12 37 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 
			 Bedfordshire 204 1,243 2,327 2,167 1,211 914 501 
			 Buckinghamshire 113 278 841 836 946 1,142 608 
			 Cambridgeshire 251 989 2,026 2,285 1,493 960 1,283 
			 Cheshire 1 540 217 237 262 215 0 
			 Cornwall 6 4 14 0 5 0 10 
			 Cumbria 0 1 15 170 71 151 42 
			 Derbyshire 56 97 53 50 41 46 58 
			 Devon 0 0 315 114 74 23 58 
			 Dorset 8 19 357 304 263 218 178 
			 Durham 0 0 0 33 37 27 0 
			 East Sussex 208 454 1,589 1,688 1,206 1,452 1,488 
			 Essex 219 1,836 2,429 2,090 2,050 2,297 1,566 
			 Gloucestershire 54 362 1,218 1,262 1,179 1,042 1,402 
			 Hampshire 63 338 666 531 674 461 544 
			 Hertfordshire 391 -539 4,696 5,896 3,753 2,445 1,804 
			 Kent 5,011 22,505 48,319 43,666 57,163 51,209 30,762 
			 Lancashire 0 75 143 117 27 120 50 
			 Leicestershire 176 499 634 528 434 482 299 
			 Lincolnshire 207 257 853 830 839 1,067 1,133 
			 Norfolk 224 539 1,256 1,286 1,149 1,270 1,267 
			 North Yorkshire 0 19 251 108 87 30 51 
			 Northamptonshire 1,563 8,313 11,706 6,540 4,474 9,410 8,650 
			 Northumberland 11 6 2 0 0 0 0 
			 Nottinghamshire 58 291 415 274 238 226 140 
			 Oxfordshire 1,570 4,875 10,702 6,695 5,796 4,078 3,983 
			 Shropshire 0 18 19 19 88 75 75 
			 Somerset 0 65 105 37 54 30 20 
			 Staffordshire 287 650 917 890 1,063 1,140 709 
			 Suffolk 16 436 1,024 494 477 400 350 
			 Surrey 303 1,270 3,113 3,050 123 2,500 2,800 
			 Warwickshire 295 552 996 1,060 1,437 930 969 
			 West Sussex 1,206 2,555 4,196 4,809 6,674 6,157 6,556 
			 Wiltshire 70 0 199 0 191 35 42 
			 Worcestershire 4 510 559 434 452 417 417 
			 
			 Brentwood 0 0 52 0 0 0 0 
			 Derwentside 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Huntingdonshire 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 
			 Penwith 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 192,735 305,510 551,157 552,742 520,942 490,757 397,606

Legal Proceedings (Official Comment)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanism his Department uses to regulate comments by (a) Ministers and (b) officials on cases subject to ongoing legal proceedings.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 12 July 2004
	All Ministers are bound by the Ministerial Code which sets out their overarching duty—and that of Departments—to comply with the law and to uphold the administration of justice. Ministers and officials are therefore well aware of the need to avoid any prejudice to legal proceedings.

Stephen Lawrence

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures have been taken to correct the errors made by the Metropolitan police identified in the Macpherson Report; and what measures have been taken to achieve change needed to prevent similar incidents from occurring.

Hazel Blears: The report of the Inquiry into the murder of Stephen Lawrence was published in February 1999 and made 70 recommendations, mainly relating to the police service.
	At the time of publication the then Home Secretary gave a commitment to publish an action plan setting out how the recommendations of the report would be taken forward. This was published in March 1999 and annual updates have been published since, the latest being published in August 2004.
	The Lawrence Steering Group (LSG) was established in 1999 to oversee progress on the implementation of the recommendations. The LSG is chaired by the Home Secretary and continues to meet on a regular basis.
	The majority of the SLIR recommendations have been either partially or fully implemented and work remains ongoing to fully implement those that have not and to monitor the effect implementation has had.
	Copies of the latest Annual Report on progress have been placed in the Library of the House. The report contains a summary of progress against the recommendations.

Stephen Lawrence

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when and how the transcripts of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry of 1999 will be made available to (a) Sir William Macpherson, Bishop John Sentanu and Dr Richard Stone, (b) the National Archive and (c) the general public; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The papers emanating from the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry amount to more than 80,000 pages not all of which have so far been published as part of the official report. There is a comprehensive review exercise underway to prepare material for transfer to The National Archives (TNA). Where it is possible to make the transferred material open for public inspection that will be my preferred approach. However the Inquiry examined a wide range of contributions and evidence that may not all be suitable for immediate release. The review exercise is planned to be completed by the middle of next year. My intention will be to release as much of the Inquiry's papers as possible, at the soonest date, without creating any adverse impact on necessary further investigations. It is essential that all the material is thoroughly reviewed and subjected to a detailed sensitivity appraisal before being made available for public inspection.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Staff

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many full-time equivalent jobs (a) her Department and (b) its executive agencies had in (i) Yorkshire and the Humber and (ii) the City of York in (A) 1997 and (B) the latest year for which figures are available.

Richard Caborn: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport and its executive agency (The Royal Parks Agency) are based in London therefore they have no full-time equivalent jobs in (i) Yorkshire and the Humber and (ii) the City of York.

Historic Buildings (Buckinghamshire)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the sites of historic interest in Buckinghamshire which have received grant aid since April 2001, broken down by (a) date and (b) amount awarded.

Richard Caborn: Since April 2001, the following sites of historic interest Buckinghamshire have received grant aid:
	
		
			 Site Date of offer Grant amount (£) 
		
		
			 Castlethorp Castle 13 June 2001 925 
			 Stowe House—Phase I 9 July 2001 320,000 
			 Whiteleaf Hill, Bucks—Restoration 30 November 2001 360,000 
			 St. Mary's Church Hardwick 7 January 2002 125,200 
			 All Saint's Church, Milton Keynes 7 January 2002 147,533 
			 Stowe House Preservation Plan—Phase II 30 January 2002 5,528,000 
			 All Saints Church, Buckland 11 June 2002 10,368 
			 Save Common Wood Campaign 18 June 2003 549,000 
			 Stowe House–Phase II 19 July 2002 195,000 
			 Stowe Landscape Garden—Doric Arch 13 August 2002 32,000 
			 Stowe Landscape Garden—Statue of King George I 13 August 2002 20,000 
			 Hall Barn—Gothic Temple, Beaconsfield 2 September 2002 36,000 
			 Butlers Manor 4 October 2002 2,453 
			 Church of St. Mary Magalen, Willen 11 December 2002 40,881 
			 Haddenham Methodist Church 12 December 2002 78,000 
			 Church Loft Clock—Renovation 20 November 2002 12,110 
			 Church of St. Peter and Paul, Ellesborough 8 January 2003 65,000 
			 St. Mary's Church, Marsh Gibbon 8 January 2003 57,000 
			 Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Radnage 8 January 2003 30,000 
			 Former Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Boveney 13 January 2003 152,909 
			 Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Stoke Mandeville 25 March 2003 101,000 
			 Fusion, Milton Keynes 24 June 2003 50,000 
			 Getting to Know Bernwood Forest 31 July 2003 45.529 
			 Burnham, St. Peter's Church, (Reredos) 28 October 2003 19,550 
			 Project Plan for Bradwell Abbey, Milton Keynes 9 December 2002 35,200 
			 Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Great Brickhill 19 December 2003 64,000 
			 Church of St. Michael and All Angels, Aston Clinton 19 December 2003 39,000 
			 Church of St. Lawrence, West Wycombe 19 December 2003 25,000 
			 Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Drayton Beauchamp 19 December 2003 65,000 
			 Church of St. Mary the Virgin, North Marston 19 December 2003 253,000 
			 St. Mary's Church, Marsh Gibbon 15 January 2004 48,000 
			 St. Mary the Virgin, Radnage, High Wycombe 31 April 2004 23,000 
			 Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Aylesbury 2 April 2004 53,000 
			 Fishponds at Medieval Hamlet of Littlecote (SAM) 19 May 2004 1,920 
			 Shabbington Bells Restoration Project 24 May 2004 29,257 
			 Church of St. Mary Magalen, Willen 13 July 2004 56,000 
			 Marble Saloon Restoration 15 September 2004 484,500

Historic Environment Champions

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many historic environment champions have been appointed.

Richard Caborn: We understand that, to date, 85 local authorities have appointed elected Members as Historic Environment Champions and a further six have appointed senior officers as Champions.

Listed Buildings

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the total value of grants which (a) English Heritage and (b) the Heritage Lottery Fund allocated to Buckinghamshire in (i) 2001–02, (ii) 2002–03 and (iii) 2003–04 for the conservation of listed buildings.

Richard Caborn: The total value of grants English Heritage and Heritage Lottery Fund allocated to Buckinghamshire for the conservation of listed buildings is as follows.
	
		
			   (£) 
			  English Heritage Heritage Lottery fund 
		
		
			 2001–02 593,658 5,951,300 
			 2002–03 524,730 182,200 
			 2003–04 223,000 279,000

Ministers' Private Offices

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the running costs of Ministers' private offices in her Department have been in each year since 1997.

Richard Caborn: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 10 July 2003, Official Report, columns 945–46W, to the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs (Mr. Flight).
	The figures for Ministerial Private Office running costs since 1998 are provided in the table. The information for 1997 is not available.
	
		
			  Cost (£) 
		
		
			 2003–04 1,989,822.19 
			 2002–03 1,840,045.10 
			 2001–02 1,667,182.44 
			 2000–01 1,387,142.33 
			 1999–2000 1,307,106.16 
			 1998–99 1,561,546.86

Mobile Phones

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many mobile phones were used by (a) Ministers and special advisers and (b) officials in her Department in each year since 1997; how many were (i) lost and (ii) stolen; and what their cost was.

Richard Caborn: The number of mobile phones used by Ministers, special advisers and officials in the Department is as follows:
	
		
			   Mobile phones used by 
			  Total handsets Officials Ministers Special advisers 
		
		
			 1998 30 27 3 — 
			 1999 36 33 3 — 
			 2000 39 36 3 — 
			 2001 43 39 3 1 
			 2002 50 46 3 1 
			 2003 57 54 2 1 
			 2004 68 65 2 1 
		
	
	It is not possible to provide figures for 1997.
	Lost or stolen during same period:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1998 4 
			 1999 0 
			 2000 0 
			 2001 0 
			 2002 1 
			 2003 0 
			 2004 0 
		
	
	The cost to my Department of mobile phones supplied to ministers and officials was £25,500 in 2000–01, £21,000 in 2001–02, £29,000 in 2002–03 and £36,000 in 2003–04. It is not possible to provide figures prior to 2000 save at disproportionate cost.

New Opportunities Fund

Eric Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money from the New Opportunities Fund has been allocated to Carlisle in each year since 1997.

Estelle Morris: The following amounts have been allocated by the New Opportunities Fund in Carlisle in each year since 1997:
	
		
			  Amount (£) 
		
		
			 1999 1,990,623 
			 2000 377,381 
			 2001 1,442,965 
			 2002 1,318,532 
			 2003 887,146 
			 2004 (21)6,010 
		
	
	(21) To date
	The information is freely available from the Department's searchable Lottery award database at www.lottery.culture.gsi.gov.uk, which uses information supplied by the Lottery distributors.

TRANSPORT

Nottingham Tram Extension

Nick Palmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will decide on funding for the proposed Nottingham tram extension.

Tony McNulty: The Department has received a bid for the extensions, but is awaiting more detail on the procurement and financing aspects. A decision will then be made on whether to grant approval in principle.

Disabled Parking Bays

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the provision of disabled parking bays.

Charlotte Atkins: Advice has been issued to local authorities about the provision of such parking bays.
	Authorities also have powers to designate a space outside a disabled people's residence. In deciding whether to do so they will take account of local traffic management issues, as well as the needs of the person requesting the space.

Public Service Order Obligations (Air Services)

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement regarding the provision of public service order obligations for regional air services.

Alistair Darling: The Department for Transport is currently consulting in relation to the implementation of Public Service Obligations. The consultation was due to run for three months but has been extended to end on 8 November.

A1 Roundabouts (East Midlands)

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when construction work will begin on replacing the roundabouts on the A1 in the east midlands.

David Jamieson: Following the outcome of the recent Spending Review 2004, we are currently considering funding allocations across departmental programmes, including all schemes in the Targeted Programme of Trunk Road Improvements. I shall not be in a position to confirm when construction work on replacing the roundabouts on the Al in the east midlands will begin until this exercise has been completed. I will write to my hon. Friend when the position is clearer.

Ferry Safety

Gwyn Prosser: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the seafaring unions on (a) ship safety and (b) crewing levels on ferries.

David Jamieson: None. However, officials in my Department and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency meet regularly with representatives of the seafaring unions through formal committees and day-to-day contact to discuss matters related to the safety of ships, their crews, passengers and cargoes.

A36

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason the speed limit on the A36(T) between Salisbury and Wilton has been reduced to 40 mph.

David Jamieson: The Highways Agency has a temporary speed restriction order in place on this section of the A36 between Salisbury and Wilton given that the new lighting columns are not protected by safety barriers.
	The need for either speed restrictions or safety barriers has arisen from a recent change in the standards for provision of road restraint systems. The installation of safety barriers at this location is not feasible due to space constraints as there is a footpath between the road and the lighting columns.
	The agency is investigating the feasibility of making the temporary Traffic Regulation Order permanent and is currently consulting other interested parties.

A36

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons the 40 mph speed limit on the A36(T) west of the Wiltshire county boundary has not been extended in a similar way to the speed limit on the Hampshire side of the boundary.

David Jamieson: The Highways Agency has undertaken a consultation with a number of statutory bodies regarding the reduction of the speed limit on the A36 from 50 to 40 mph on the Wiltshire side of the county boundary. The agency has, however, received objections from some consultees to the proposed reduced speed limit.
	The agency is currently progressing a scheme to introduce a package of traffic calming measures on this section of the A36. These measures should address the issues raised in the objections.
	It is anticipated that the safety measures will be introduced early next year. The Highways Agency will then be in a position to re-apply for the reduction of the speed limit from 50 mph to 40mph.

Birmingham North Relief Road

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much it cost per mile to build the Birmingham North Relief Road; and what the latest average cost per mile to build a motorway is under conventional procurement procedures.

David Jamieson: The 27 mile M6 Toll (formerly known as the Birmingham Northern Relief Road) was privately financed by Midlands Expressway-Ltd. (MEL) under a 53 year concession agreement awarded by the Government in 1992. The construction costs awarded by MEL to its contractor at tender stage were £485.5 million. The overall costs are a matter for MEL but I understand that the development cost incurred is in the region of £900 million. This includes the cost of land, interest on loans, consultancy, management, and legal fees.
	The cost of building a new dual 3-lane rural motorway, with hard shoulder, is currently estimated by the Highways Agency to be between £20 and £25 million per mile. However, there are many variables to be considered in arriving at a figure for the cost of creating a new length of motorway, including the difference between urban and rural areas. Factors such as quality of land, geology, drainage, environmental mitigation, traffic management and restricted access can all have a significant bearing on costs.

Commercial Cargoes

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers he can exercise to prevent the transportation of cargoes (a) in UK waters and (b) beyond the UK limit.

David Jamieson: The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to which the UK acceded in 1997, gives rights of innocent passage through territorial waters and rights of navigation on the high seas. The Secretary of State has no powers to curtail such rights which benefit UK ships in particular and world trade in general. Other international Conventions allow the UK as a port state to inspect ships upon port entry and if necessary detain them if found defective.

Congestion Charging

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on congestion charging in cities other than London.

Charlotte Atkins: Local authorities have powers under the Transport Act 2000 to introduce congestion charging in their areas. The Government are committed to work alongside authorities, to help them put in place packages of measures that tackle local congestion problems. Resources from the new Transport Innovation Fund will be available to support packages that tackle congestion through measures such as congestion charging schemes and radically enhanced bus services.

Dartford Crossing

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is regarding (a) the accumulation and (b) uses of an operating surplus from the Dartford Crossing.

David Jamieson: All income from charging at the Dartford Crossing is taken into account in the funding for the 10 year plan.

Driving Tests

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many advanced driving instructors are expected by the Driving Standards Authority to fail the Part 1 Hazard Perception Test when it becomes compulsory.

David Jamieson: The Driving Standards Agency is confident that Approved Driving Instructors will meet the requirement to successfully complete the Hazard Perception Test by December 2006.

Driving Tests

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what charge he expects will be made for advance driving instructors taking Hazard Perception Test re-tests.

David Jamieson: The re-test fee for the Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) Hazard Perception Test is currently being calculated. When it has been quantified, the Agency will advise ADIs of the level of the fee and the arrangements for taking the test.

London Underground

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much central government money will be invested in the London Underground over the next five years.

Tony McNulty: The GLA transport grant over the next five years will include the following provision for London Underground that will support its investment programme:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2005–06 1,161 
			 2006–07 l,281 
			 2007–08 l,340 
			 2008–09 l,218 
			 2009–10 l,308 
		
	
	In addition, the costs of work by London Underground in completing the current phase of the redevelopment of King's Cross LUL station will be met by the Department. Ministers are considering a detailed report on the case for proceeding with phase 2 of this project.

London Underground

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much central Government money was invested in the London Underground in each year between 1999 and its transfer to the Mayor of London.

Tony McNulty: London Underground's investment was funded from operational income and the Government grant paid to London Regional Transport. The following table shows the grant paid to London Transport and the levels of London Underground investment in 1999–2000 to 2003–04. Until July 2000, when Transport for London was established, the grant to London Transport also provided funding for Croydon Tramlink, bus and river services.
	
		
			   £ million 
			  London Regional Transport grant London Underground investment 
		
		
			 1999–00 816 907 
			 2000–01 315 293 
			 2001–02 484 418 
			 2002–03 767 402 
			 2003–04 (22)1,218 668 
		
	
	(22) Grant figure for the whole year, although after July 2003, it was paid as part of the Greater London Authority transport grant.
	In addition since 1999, Department for Transport has paid £319 million to LU for the work at King's Cross LUL station in connection with the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.

Motorways

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements he has made for additional road traffic policing to enforce the greater lane discipline on motorways announced on 11 October.

David Jamieson: No additional road traffic policing arrangements were made to enforce the message trials announced on the 11 October. The purpose of piloting lane discipline messages on the motorway message signs was to gauge their effectiveness in improving driver behaviour to reduce accidents and congestion on England's motorways. Lane occupancy is therefore being monitored by the Highways Agency, before, during and after the trial. The information obtained will be used to take forward the assessment of the potential of using variable message signs in this way.

Railways

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to re-organise the procedures for awarding rail service franchises; and whether he intends to change the number of companies with such franchises.

Alistair Darling: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement I have made to the House today.

Railways

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the punctuality of railway service providers.

Tony McNulty: The Strategic Rail Authority publishes performance figures and commentary in their quarterly National Rail Trends publication, copies of which are placed in the Library of the House. The latest figures show that 84.5 per cent. of services ran on time in the first quarter of 2004, up by 0.2 per cent. on the same period in 2003.

Railways

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when Broken Cross railway bridge on the Salisbury to Waterloo line at Ford, east of Salisbury, will be upgraded; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: This is an operational matter for Network Rail. Network Rail will respond directly to the hon. Member.

Railways

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rail freight miles were travelled in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003.

Tony McNulty: Information on rail freight miles is not available in calendar years. However, the following data is available in financial years:
	
		
			 Financial year Miles 
		
		
			 2001–02 30,315,798 
			 2002–03 29,335,863 
			 2003–04 29,340,524

Railways

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many incidents of people riding on the outside of moving trains were reported to the British Transport Police in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003; what measures are being taken to prevent train surfing; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The number of incidents of surfing recorded by the BTP's Command and Control system for the last two years (excluding Scotland) is as follows:
	
		
			 January to December Number 
		
		
			 (a) 2002 251 
			 (b) 2003 472 
		
	
	The BTP are working with other parts of the industry to make young people aware of the dangers of trespass on the railway. This partnership approach is delivered through education, prevention, deterrence, detection, and community involvement. Local campaigns to combat route crime are run, particularly leading up to and in the summer holidays. However, care needs to be taken regarding the issue of surfing as publicity could lead to copycat offences.

Railways

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent by the Government on capital works on the UK rail network since privatisation; and what the Department's estimate is of the amount to be spent by Government over the next 10 years.

Tony McNulty: Between 1997–98 and 2003–04, the Government directly funded £3.52 billion of investment by Railtrack, Network Rail and London and Continental Railways. Total private rail investment during that period amounted to £19.12 billion, of which £3.34 billion was rolling stock investment.
	Planned Government expenditure on rail for the next three years will be published in due course. Network Rail plans to invest around £14 billion in rail infrastructure over the next five years.

Roundabouts

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the regulations and criteria that must be followed by highway authorities when considering construction of roundabouts on A roads.

David Jamieson: Roundabout design criteria can be found in standards and advice notes within the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges. The standards and advice notes of particular relevance are:
	Volume 6, Section 2, Part 3: TD16/93 Geometric Design of Roundabouts
	Volume 6, Section 2, Part 3: TA78/97 Design of Road Markings at Roundabouts
	Volume 6, Section 2, Part 3: TD50/99 The Geometric Layout of Signal-Controlled Junctions and Signalised Roundabouts
	Volume 6, Section 2, Part 7: TA23/81 Junctions and Accesses: Determination of Size of Roundabouts and Major/Minor Junctions
	Volume 6, Section 2, Part 8: TA86/03 Layout of Large Signal Controlled Junctions
	Volume 6, Section 3, Part 5: TD51/03 Segregated Left Turn Lanes and Subsidiary Deflection Islands at Roundabouts.
	The use of these documents is mandatory for trunk roads. They are commended to other highways authorities but their use remains a matter for each local highway authority.
	Copies of these documents have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

UK Ports

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary for Transport what plans he has to develop a strategy for UK ports.

David Jamieson: We announced in the Future of Transport that we will be reviewing our port policy framework once decisions have been taken on outstanding proposals for major container port development. We expect these to have been taken by the autumn of 2005.

Uninsured Drivers

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to reduce the number of uninsured drivers on the road.

David Jamieson: Uninsured drivers on our roads are a menace. We have taken a number of steps to bear down on uninsured driving including setting up a review of motor insurance arrangements in the UK by Professor David Greenaway. His report was published on 11 August and we are now taking urgent measures to implement the recommendations.
	We are working closely with the insurance industry and we now plan to introduce legislation, further education and enforcement programmes to force uninsured drivers from our roads.

Uninsured Drivers

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what initiatives have been undertaken to reduce the number of uninsured drivers on UK roads; and what funding has been allocated for this purpose.

David Jamieson: The Government recognises that uninsured drivers causes considerable concern. Following publication, last August of the Greenaway report on uninsured driving we plan a further package of measures to address the problem.
	The Government's tough new approach will target the estimated one million motorists on our roads driving without insurance.
	We plan to:
	Give the police the power to seize and, in appropriate cases, destroy vehicles that are being driven uninsured;
	Link the DVLA's Vehicle Register and the Motor Insurance Databases, allowing police to know which vehicles on the road are uninsured;
	Allow fixed penalties for people who ignore reminders that their insurance has expired.
	We are also considering with relevant stakeholders:
	Concerted action by insurance companies to continue to improve the Motor Insurance Database;
	Simpler and clearer notification procedures so that no one is in any doubt when their insurance expires;
	Automatic reminders sent out to those motorists who forget to insure on time.
	We are considering what funding from Government will be needed.

CABINET OFFICE

Rural Policy

David Heath: To ask the Chancellor for the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he has taken to co-ordinate Government policy between the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and other Government departments on rural areas.

Alan Milburn: Rural Policy is co-ordinated by DEFRA across Whitehall. A series of meetings are held regularly between my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) and ministerial colleagues from other Government Departments.
	There is a Cabinet Committee on Rural Renewal, DA(RR).
	Rural Proofing is a key mechanism by which Government takes its rural work forward. Through it a proper analysis of the benefits and disbenefits to rural areas is made. It is now formally part of the Regulatory Impact Assessment.

Fishing Industry

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor for the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the strategy unit's report on the future of the fishing industry.

Alan Milburn: The report proposed a possible long-term strategy for improving the fortunes of the industry and the communities which depend on it. It calls for major reforms to the Common Fisheries Policy, whilst also saying that the fishing industry will gain more from the UK staying in the Common Fisheries Policy.
	Responsibility for taking forward the reports' findings has now passed from the Strategy Unit to the fisheries departments of the UK, through an extensive process of consultation with the fishing industry and other stakeholders.

Lord Birt

James Gray: To ask the Minister if she will make a statement on the role, responsibilities and status of Lord Birt.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor provided to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on Wednesday 21 Jul 2004, column 332W.

Departmental Responsibilities

Julian Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list the responses (a) made and (b) not yet made to reports on matters within her Department's responsibility by the Public Administration Committee since June 2001.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 18 October 2004
	Information relating to responses made by the Government to reports of the Public Administration Select Committee is available in the Library of the House, or through the Committee's website at http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary committees/public administration select committee/public administration select committee reports and publications.cfm
	A response to the Committee's Third Report of the 2003–04 session on "Ministerial Accountability and Parliamentary Questions" (HC 355) was sent to the Committee on 15 October, and will therefore not yet appear on the website.
	A response to the Committee's Fifth Report of the 2003–04 session entitled "A Matter of Honour: Reforming the Honours System" (HC 212–1) is still outstanding, and the Committee has been advised that the Government aims to reply before the Christmas recess.

E-Government

Paul Flynn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which area of e-Government received the largest number of hits in the last period for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: A regular independent survey of traffic to government websites shows that JobCentre Plus, the Inland Revenue, Met Office and DfES regularly attract the highest traffic across government.
	Directgov, the single destination for all e-Government services, which was launched in April is now 8th most popular government site. Visits to the site are continually increasing, with visits rising from 419,916 in May to 758,149 in September.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Allergies

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance he issues to (a) schools and (b) other educational facilities on contingency preparations to put in place where community use may conflict with pupils who have allergies, particularly allergies to peanuts.

Stephen Twigg: All educational institutions have health and safety responsibilities towards the children and young people in their care, which include making health and safety risk assessments. The responsibility of the employer is to make sure that safety measures cover the needs of all pupils, which may mean making special arrangements for individual pupils with medical needs. This is set out in the joint DfES/Department of Health Circular 14/96: "Supporting pupils with medical needs in school. The associated Supporting pupils with medical needs:" a good practice guide provides advice and information to schools on managing medication and pupils' health needs including anaphylaxis (e.g. peanut allergy). We have also issued advice to schools and local education authorities on community use and health and safety responsibilities in Extended Schools: "providing opportunities and services for all." It advises that when offering additional activities and services that may affect the health and safety of staff and others, new risk assessments should be carried out to assess the likely risk to staff, pupils, visitors and users of the premises.

Community Champions Funds

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what awards have been made under the Community Champions Funds since May 2002 to projects in (a) Buckinghamshire and (b) England, broken down by (i) date of award, (ii) amount of award and (iii) type of project.

Ivan Lewis: Information is not recorded in the format requested. However, in Buckinghamshire the following awards were made:
	
		Buckinghamshire
		
			  April to March  Number of awards Total expenditure on awards (£000) 
		
		
			 2002–03 10 34 
			 2003–04 5 10 
		
	
	
		England
		
			  April to March  Number of awards Total Expenditure on awards (£000) 
		
		
			 2002–03 (23)1500 2,625 
			 2003–04 (23)1757 (24)2,536 
		
	
	(23) During 2002–2004, the Scarman Trust delivered 1530 You and Your Community Awards. These were jointly supported by the Community Champions Fund and a Millennium Commission award.
	(24) In 2003–04 the DfES funded a national evaluation of the Community Champions Fund.
	In addition, the "Evaluation of the Community Champions Fund" June 2004 shows that the average award per Champion in England over the period was £1,250. Of the evaluation sample of 1596 awards, 910 were small grants of under £1,500; with 686 awards of over £1,500.
	The Community Champions Fund supports a wide range of projects which support many different facets of community activity and cohesion. The evaluation showed that typical projects would cover for example, working with children; tackling inter—generational relationships; improving links between ethnic groups; providing services for others such as the homeless and people with HIV; renovating or supporting local resources such as skate parks, community centres; and increasing the capacity of community workers and volunteers. The full evaluation is available (reference RB550) on the DfES website: www.dfes.gov.uk/research/.

Consultants

John Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the contracts awarded by his Department to consultants in each of the last five years, stating in each case (a) the name of the consulting company, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the purpose for which the contract was awarded; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: This information could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Job Losses

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the anticipated total cost is of the arrangements for the voluntary early release of 350 staff from the Department; and if he will list the (a) grade and (b) geographic location of the staff who will be given voluntary early release.

Charles Clarke: Final decisions on the total numbers of people to be released have not yet been made. Overall cost will be dependant on the individual circumstances of those who are released including age, salary level and length of service, but it is likely to be approximately £17.5 million.

e2e

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent developments have occurred in the use of e2e with specific reference to access by those working with Young Mums To Be.

Ivan Lewis: The Learning and Skills Council has a statutory commitment to fund learning for all 16 to 18-year-olds, Within this commitment it is important that young mothers to be are not disenfranchised from learning. However The Young Mums To Be Award (YMTBA) does not provide the full curriculum range required of an Entry to Employment (E2E) programme. The LSC has therefore suggested that the YMTBA be further developed and submitted for inclusion in the National Qualification Framework. This will bring the programme into mainstream Further Education provision.

Education Costs (Isle of Wight)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the (a) capital and (b) recurring cost is to public funds of (i) Cross Keys, (ii) Edutainment and (iii) the ICT Academy in Ryde, Isle of Wight; how many courses are provided by each at public expense; and what qualification each course leads to.

Charles Clarke: holding answer 18 October2004
	These three organisations are involved in the provision of adult learning, which is planned by and funded through the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). Details about the delivery and funding of post-16 learning relate to the operational responsibilities of the LSC and I have asked Mark Haysom, the LSC's Chief Executive, to write to the hon. Member with the information requested. A copy of Mr. Haysom's reply will be placed in the Library.

Education Funding (Southend)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list grants his Department has made for education provision in Southend in each of the last three years.

David Miliband: The following revenue and capital grants for each year from 2002–03 have been provided by the Department:
	2002–03
	Revenue
	Nursery Education Grant
	Class Size Grant
	Teacher's Pay Grants
	School Standards Grant
	Large Education Action Zones
	Learning and Skills Council
	Standards Funds
	Capital
	Basic L C Vap
	Class Size Initiative
	Condition
	Devolved Formula
	Modernisation VA
	National Grid For Learning
	School Security
	Secondary Learning Support Units
	Seed Challenge
	Specialist Schools
	Staff Workspace
	Voluntary Aided School Grant
	2003–04
	Revenue
	Teacher's Pay Grants
	School Standards Grant
	Large Education Action Zones
	Learning and Skills Council
	Standards Funds
	Excellence In Cities
	Additional Budget Support Grant
	Capital
	Basic L C Vap
	Condition
	Devolved Formula
	Modernisation VA
	Schools Access Initiative
	Seed Challenge
	Staff Workspace
	Targeted Capital Funding-VA
	2004–05
	Revenue
	Teacher's Pay Grants
	School Standards Grant
	Large Education Action Zones
	Learning and Skills Council
	Standards Funds
	Excellence In Cities
	Targeted Transitional Support Grant
	Capital
	Basic L C Vap
	Devolved Formula
	Modernisation (Primary)
	Modernisation LEA
	Seed Challenge
	Sustainable Transport
	The grants for each year are included in the total grant figures in the following table.
	
		Total funding for Southend from 2002–03 to 2004–05 £ million
		
			  EFS/SSA Revenue grants Capital grants Total 
		
		
			 2002–03 80.9 18.0 4.2 103.1 
			 2003–04 84.6 18.0 5.2 107.8 
			 2004–05 88.2 19.5 4.2 111.9 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Price Base: Real terms at 2003–04 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 30.06.04.
	2. Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of education Standard Spending Assessments/Education Formula Spending settlements and exclude the pensions transfer to EFS and LSC.
	3. Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES Departmental Expenditure Limits relevant to pupils aged 3–19 and exclude EMAs and grants not allocated at LEA level.
	4. Where responsibility for funding a school has transferred from an LEA, related funding no longer appears in the series.
	5. Rounding: Figures are rounded to the nearest £0.1 million.
	6. Status: 2003–04 and 2004–05 figures are provisional as some grants have not yet been finalised/audited.

Educational Psychologists

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he will make an announcement on the future training and role of educational psychologists.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 15 October 2004
	Decisions as to the role and deployment of educational psychologists (EPs) are matters for local authorities as employers to determine in the light of local circumstances and available resources.
	As regards training, the hon. Member will recall from the debate he initiated on 8 June 2004 that that Department has facilitated discussions involving a range of partners, including representatives of the Local Government Association, on streamlining the entry route for EPs. Our position has not changed since then. We are considering the future role and training needs of EPs within the context of wider discussions on children's workforce issues.

Excellence in Cities

Ann Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the impact of the Excellence in Cities programme since its introduction.

David Miliband: The Excellence in Cities programme, which incorporates the Leadership Incentive Grant (LIG) and Behaviour Improvement Plans (BIP) in EiC areas, is continuing to narrow the attainment gap and improve attendance and behaviour.
	In terms of five good GCSEs, last year, schools in EiC whole authority areas improved at more than twice the average of non-EiC schools. After two years of the BIP (2002–03 and 2003–04), targeted schools in the initial 34 LEAs have increased attendance from 88 per cent. to 89.8 per cent. at secondary level and from 92.4 per cent. to 93.3 per cent. at primary level. These increases are at twice the national rate of improvement over the period. Fixed term exclusions dropped by 11 per cent. over the first year of the BIP.
	Between 2001 and 2003 the percentage of pupils gaining five A*-C in EiC areas increased by 4.7 percentage points, while in non EiC areas the percentage increased by 2.7 percentage points.

Five-Year Strategy

David Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to allow colleges to expand under the Five-Year Strategy.

David Miliband: Further Education Colleges are key partners in helping deliver the DfES Five-Year Strategy for Children and Learners. They are however independent autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own decisions on how they meet the local skill needs of both individuals and employers within available resources.

Head Teachers

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools were without a permanent head teacher for any period in the past 12 months.

David Miliband: Teacher vacancy information is collected annually and gives the position on the census date in January of each year. In January 2004 there were 440 vacant or temporary filled head teacher posts in nursery and primary schools in England and 80 in secondary schools.
	Posts are regarded as vacant or temporarily filled, irrespective of whether the post had been advertised or an appointment made but not taken up, where: there is no incumbent who was expected to return; the post is either not covered or is being filled on a temporary basis by a teacher with no contract or a contract of less than a year.

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which funding streams have been allocated by his Department using a funding formula which includes rankings or scores on the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000; and if he will list the amount of funding allocated in such a way (a) nationally by the Department or (b) to all Government sponsored bodies reporting to the Department.

Charles Clarke: The following funding streams were allocated by my Department in 2004–05 using the Index of Multiple Deprivation:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 Programme Capital and revenue 
		
		
			 Sure Start Local programmes 524 
			 Children's Centres 95 
			 Neighbourhood Nurseries 95 
			 New Childcare Places 31 
			 Special Educational Needs and Inclusion 26 
			 Sure Start Sustainability programme 15 
			 Extended Schools 4 
			 Parenting fund 2 
		
	
	In addition to the amounts listed above, the Learning and Skills Council uses the index as one component of its decision-making in some of its allocations. For example:
	(a) funding further education colleges and work-based learning in disadvantaged areas. The vast majority of this element of funding is based on the 15 per cent. most deprived wards.
	(b) as one of the pointers for allocating Learner Support Funds to students of 16–18 in further education and school sixth forms and funds to help local education authority led partnerships to provide services and financial support to 16 to 18-year-old learners for home to school and college transport.
	The Department also used the index in selecting Educational Maintenance Allowance pilots, but makes allocations to particular areas based on numbers participating.

IT Funding (Hounslow)

Ann Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding has been given for the provision of new information technology facilities and equipment to schools in the London borough of Hounslow since 2001.

David Miliband: I refer my hon. Friend to 'Funding for ICT in Schools in England', which is available in the House Library.

Key Stage 1

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of pupils achieved level 2 or above at Key Stage 1 (a) in England and (b) at schools based in the Buckingham constituency in each year since 2002.

David Miliband: The available information is shown in the table. Figures for Key Stage 1 attainment at level 2 or above by parliamentary constituency for 2004 are currently being compiled and will be placed in the Library in mid-November.
	
		Percentage of pupils achieving level 2 or above at Key Stage 1 in reading, writing and mathematics in Buckingham parliamentary constituency and England—2002 to 2004
		
			  2002 1 2003 1 2004 
			  Buckingham England Buckingham England Buckingham England (provisional) 
		
		
			 Reading 91 84 91 84 (26)— 85 
			 Writing 93 86 90 81 (26)— 82 
			 Mathematics 95 90 95 90 (26)— 90 
		
	
	(25) Percentage of pupils achieving level 2 or above in task/tests.
	(26) The figures will not be available until mid-November.
	Note:
	These results combine task/tests for non-trial schools and teacher assessments for trial schools. Trial schools in 34 LEAs only reported teacher assessment results.
	The latest key stage 1 results were published in a Statistical First Release "National Curriculum Assessments for 7 year olds in England, 2004" on 24 August, which is available on the Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway.

Local Network Fund

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what plans he has for the continuity of funding for small local voluntary schemes, when the local network fund ends in March 2006; and what the relationship with children's trusts will be;
	(2)  what role there will be for social strategic partnerships in any proposal for grant-giving to small local voluntary groups when the local network fund ends;
	(3)  what role there will be for community foundations in any proposal for grant giving to small local voluntary groups when the local network fund ceases to exist.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 18 October 2004
	There are no plans for the Local Network Fund for Children and Young People to close. The Fund is now in its fourth year and has developed an effective national network of development and funding support for local voluntary organisations working with and for children and young people. The 2004 Budget committed to an extension of the Local Network Fund until March 2008.
	Voluntary organisations, some of which are community foundations, have played a key role in establishing the Local Network Fund and in administering local funds across the country. They have a delivery contract with the Department to March 2006. We have established a steering group of Local Network Fund administrators to help plan the delivery arrangements for the Fund beyond 2006. The steering group will consider how the Local Network Fund should relate to Children's trusts arrangements locally, and how best to ensure that the successes achieved by local administrators in supporting community groups working with disadvantaged children and young people are maintained.

Non-qualification Programmes

David Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he intends to identify a budget for non-qualification bearing programmes.

Ivan Lewis: I have already done so. The Government have agreed with the LSC a budget of £207.4 million in 2004–05 for adult education secured through Local Education Authorities, an increase of 43 per cent. compared with funding in 2000–01 of £145 million. In addition the LSC is currently consulting on reforming the planning and funding of non-qualification provision to meet our commitments to safeguard learning opportunities for personal and community development and to secure a coherent range of 'first steps' learning opportunities in every area.

Parenting Orders (Buckinghamshire)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many parenting orders have been (a) sought by and (b) granted to schools in Buckinghamshire since June 2001.

Stephen Twigg: The information requested is not collected centrally. However, Buckinghamshire local education authority advises that local magistrates have granted parenting orders in nine of the truancy cases it has brought to prosecution since July 2001.

Plumbing Courses

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the level of Construction Industry Training Board support for plumbing courses; and how many colleges offered such courses in (a) 2003/04 and (b) 2004/05.

Ivan Lewis: The plumbing sector withdrew from the scope of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) in 1990 and set up its own training arrangements. Those arrangements are now the responsibility of SummitSkills—the licensed Sector Skills Council for the sector. The CITB does not therefore provide direct support for plumbing courses.
	However, some plumbing trainees are employed by construction firms who are in scope to the CITB. Employers can claim grant support from the CITB for these trainees. Information provided by the Learning and Skills Council shows that in 2003/04 plumbing courses were offered by 238 training providers of which 136 were colleges with nearly 36,000 enrolments. It is too early in the 2004/05 academic year for similar data to be available.

Pupil:Teacher Ratio

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the pupil teacher ratio figures were in each local education authority at (a) key stage 1, (b) key stage 2 and (c) key stage 3 at the latest date for which figures are available.

David Miliband: Pupil teacher ratios figures are not available by key stage because the teacher numbers from which they are derived are collected by phase of education only. Many teachers will teach more than one key stage.
	Pupil teacher ratios by phase of education, region and local education authority were published on the DfES research and statistics gateway website alongside the Statistics of Education Schools in England Volume, 2004 edition on 30 September, Table 7a (LEA). This may be downloaded from the following URL: www. dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/VOL/v000495/index.shtml.
	
		Table 7a: Maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools: pupil:teacher ratios (27) by type of school—January 2004By local education authority area, by Government Office region in England 2,3
		
			  Nursery schools Primary Schools (30) 
			  FTE pupils FTE teachers(31) Pupil:teacher ratio FTE pupils FTE teachers(31) Pupil:teacher ratio 
		
		
			 England 23,600 1,460 16.2 4,112,620 181,230 22.7 
			 North-east 2,030 120 17.5 209,270 9,610 21.8 
			 Darlington 250 10 19.2 8,680 350 24.6 
			 Durham 550 30 18.3 41,230 1,960 21.0 
			 Gateshead 30 — 14.3 16,030 760 21.0 
			 Hartlepool 20 — 6.9 8,920 400 22.5 
			 Middlesbrough 0 0 — 13,400 630 21.4 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 570 30 18.5 19,380 860 22.5 
			 North Tyneside 60 — 16.1 15,770 690 22.8 
			 Northumberland 40 — 38.5 18,720 840 22.3 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 0 0 — 12,930 600 21.4 
			 South Tyneside 130 10 15.6 12,940 620 20.9 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 0 0 — 16,910 750 22.6 
			 Sunderland 380 20 15.6 24,360 1,140 21.3 
			 North-west 3,680 230 15.8 598,280 26,760 22.4 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 370 20 19.1 14,600 660 22.0 
			 Blackpool 0 0 — 11,950 550 21.7 
			 Bolton 220 10 16.5 24,770 1,100 22.5 
			 Bury 50 — 15.7 15,910 670 23.7 
			 Cheshire 90 10 18.2 55,660 2,490 22.4 
			 Cumbria 250 10 17.9 40,060 1,850 21.7 
			 Halton 200 10 18.8 10,490 490 21.2 
			 Knowsley 0 0 — 15,570 700 22.2 
			 Lancashire 1,090 70 16.0 95,320 4,260 22.4 
			 Liverpool 240 20 12.6 38,350 1,790 21.4 
			 Manchester 90 10 10.3 40,720 1,840 22.1 
			 Oldham 0 0 — 22,950 940 24.3 
			 Rochdale 140 10 12.1 19,830 890 22.4 
			 Salford 0 0 — 20,250 910 22.3 
			 Sefton 150 10 18.6 23,500 1,070 22.1 
			 St. Helens 70 10 13.7 15,650 670 23.4 
			 Stockport 430 20 18.2 23,560 1,040 22.6 
			 Tameside 20 — 10.1 19,680 890 22.2 
			 Trafford 0 0 — 18,830 790 23.8 
			 Warrington 30 — 12.9 17,530 770 22.6 
			 Wigan 110 10 18.2 26,300 1,180 22.2 
			 Wirral 140 10 10.9 26,820 1,210 22.2 
			 Yorkshire and the 2,020 120 16.5 436,650 19,170 22.8 
			 Humber 40 — 18.3 19,450 820 23.6 
			 Barnsley 410 30 14.0 48,250 2,160 22.4 
			 Bradford 0 0 — 18,780 830 22.6 
			 Calderdale 0 0 — 26,590 1,150 23.1 
			 Doncaster 240 10 21.3 26,050 1,110 23.5 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 210 10 21.9 22,320 1,010 22.1 
			 Kingston upon Hull 140 10 11.3 34,970 1,560 22.4 
			 Kirklees 0 0 — 60,270 2,660 22.6 
			 Leeds 180 10 16.1 14,400 620 23.2 
			 North East Lincolnshire 0 0 — 13,620 580 23.5 
			 North Lincolnshire 120 10 17.6 45,020 2,080 21.6 
			 North Yorkshire 230 10 18.4 23,650 1,030 23.0 
			 Rotherham 240 20 15.4 42,200 1,790 23.5 
			 Sheffield 170 10 16.7 27,810 1,180 23.6 
			 Wakefield 50 — 28.1 13,250 590 22.7 
			 York 53 2 27.6 13,756 624 22.0 
			
			 East Midlands 1,480 100 15.4 357,620 15,490 23.1 
			 Derby 290 20 13.0 20,980 930 22.6 
			 Derbyshire 330 20 16.6 62,760 2,650 23.7 
			 Leicester 20 — 7.5 27,370 1,210 22.6 
			 Leicestershire 20 — 17.4 49,590 2,140 23.2 
			 Lincolnshire 280 20 18.6 53,580 2,290 23.4 
			 Northamptonshire 330 20 16.6 55,740 2,450 22.7 
			 Nottingham 120 10 13.5 22,800 1,090 20.8 
			 Nottinghamshire 90 10 13.3 62,270 2,610 23.8 
			 Rutland 0 0 — 2,540 120 21.5 
			
			 West Midlands 3,420 170 19.7 463,870 20,500 22.6 
			 Birmingham 1,520 80 18.8 100,110 4,660 21.5 
			 Coventry 80 — 20.6 25,910 1,180 21.9 
			 Dudley 50 — 12.3 28,000 1,270 22.0 
			 Herefordshire 0 0 — 13,180 610 21.6 
			 Sandwell 0 0 — 28,850 1,230 23.5 
			 Shropshire 0 0 — 21,240 910 23.3 
			 Solihull 0 0 — 19,630 880 22.4 
			 Staffordshire 350 20 21.9 64,390 2,740 23.5 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 340 20 22.3 21,340 870 24.4 
			 Telford and Wrekin 70 — 15.7 15,140 630 23.9 
			 Walsall 400 20 24.3 25,040 1,060 23.6 
			 Warwickshire 300 20 16.8 40,820 1,800 22.7 
			 Wolverhampton 290 10 22.5 22,280 970 22.9 
			 Worcestershire 30 — 12.6 37,930 1,680 22.5 
			
			 East of England 2,090 140 15.3 436,510 19,040 22.9 
			 Bedfordshire 430 30 16.8 23,880 1,050 22.8 
			 Cambridgeshire 270 20 13.2 43,950 1,860 23.6 
			 Essex 150 10 14.8 107,540 4,630 23.2 
			 Hertfordshire 640 40 17.3 89,950 3,910 23.0 
			 Luton 350 20 14.6 18,310 780 23.5 
			 Norfolk 130 10 12.2 65,350 2,930 22.3 
			 Peterborough 80 10 11.4 15,400 660 23.2 
			 Southend-on-Sea 0 0 — 14,150 620 22.8 
			 Suffolk 50 — 23.2 44,460 2,050 21.7 
			 Thurrock 0 0 — 13,510 540 24.9 
			
			 London 5,300 350 15.3 601,650 25,960 23.2 
			 Inner London 3,360 210 15.7 221,640 9,890 22.4 
			 Camden 80 — 19.0 11,280 530 21.5 
			 City of London 0 0 — 220 10 23.2 
			 Hackney 90 10 12.6 17,350 760 22.9 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 260 20 17.2 9,510 410 23.2 
			 Haringey 190 10 12.6 20,910 890 23.4 
			 Islington 190 10 14.3 14,510 650 22.3 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 220 10 15.1 7000 330 21.5 
			 Lambeth 350 30 13.9 19,050 920 20.8 
			 Lewisham 180 10 13.1 21,130 1,030 20.4 
			 Newham 610 30 18.8 29,270 1,200 24.5 
			 Southwark 430 30 17.0 22,750 1,030 22.2 
			 Tower Hamlets 450 20 18.2 21,560 900 24.1 
			 Wandsworth 160 10 17.9 16,620 780 21.4 
			 Westminster 160 10 11.1 10,480 470 22.4 
			
			 Outer London 1,950 130 14.6 380,010 16,080 23.6 
			 Barking and Dagenham 0 0 — 17,440 710 24.6 
			 Barnet 300 10 20.5 24,790 1,080 23.0 
			 Bexley 0 0 — 20,600 830 24.7 
			 Brent 200 10 15.5 22,140 920 24.2 
			 Bromley 0 0 — 24,010 1,010 23.7 
			 Croydon 300 20 17.6 29,130 1,260 23.0 
			 Ealing 270 20 15.9 24,700 1,000 24.8 
			 Enfield 0 0 — 25,850 1,150 22.6 
			 Greenwich 450 30 13.9 19,430 870 22.3 
			 Harrow 20 10 1.5 18,960 800 23.8 
			 Havering 0 0 — 19,650 810 24.3 
			 Hillingdon 60 10 10.8 22,720 900 25.2 
			 Hounslow 0 0 — 17,920 780 23.0 
			 Kingston upon Thames 50 — 12.4 10,480 480 22.0 
			 Merton 0 0 — 13,440 580 23.2 
			 Redbridge 0 0 — 22,440 970 23.3 
			 Richmond upon Thames 40 — 10.7 11,770 540 21.6 
			 Sutton 80 10 12.7 14,440 600 24.1 
			 Waltham Forest 190 10 18.9 20,110 800 25.2 
			
			 South-east 2,270 150 14.9 624,940 27,720 22.5 
			 Bracknell Forest 0 0 — 8,510 360 23.4 
			 Brighton and Hove 90 10 17.5 16,450 760 21.6 
			 Buckinghamshire 90 — 28.9 38,810 1,720 22.5 
			 East Sussex 0 0 — 35,860 1,670 21.4 
			 Hampshire 100 10 13.0 99,300 4,350 22.8 
			 Isle of Wight 0 0 — 7,190 320 22.2 
			 Kent 40 — 16.9 110,960 4,850 22.9 
			 Medway 0 0 — 22,880 1,000 22.9 
			 Milton Keynes 60 — 22.6 22,310 1,000 22.4 
			 Oxfordshire 380 30 13.6 44,130 1,980 22.3 
			 Portsmouth 40 — 11.6 14,430 660 21.9 
			 Reading 300 20 15.3 9,620 430 22.1 
			 Slough 320 20 15.2 10,720 440 24.6 
			 Southampton 30 — 12.2 16,280 740 21.9 
			 Surrey 240 20 13.0 76,950 3,370 22.9 
			 West Berkshire 100 10 14.7 11,720 540 21.7 
			 West Sussex 200 20 11.2 58,870 2,640 22.3 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 200 10 21.4 8,050 350 22.8 
			 Wokingham 70 — 18.5 11,910 530 22.6 
			
			 South-west 1,310 80 15.9 383,830 16,970 22.6 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 0 0 — 12,380 540 22.7 
			 Bournemouth 0 0 — 10,790 450 23.8 
			 Bristol, City of 1,090 70 16.6 29,460 1,290 22.8 
			 Cornwall 60 10 8.6 38,850 1,720 22.6 
			 Devon 60 10 12.0 54,520 2,440 22.3 
			 Dorset 0 0 — 24,580 1,120 21.9 
			 Gloucestershire 0 0 — 44,810 2,060 21.7 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 0 — 260 20 11.5 
			 North Somerset 0 0 — 14,820 610 24.1 
			 Plymouth 100 10 19.6 19,720 860 22.9 
			 Poole 0 0 — 10,630 450 23.8 
			 Somerset 0 0 — 37,590 1,690 22.2 
			 South Gloucestershire 0 0 — 22,790 960 23.6 
			 Swindon 0 0 — 16,970 700 24.1 
			 Torbay 0 0 — 9,930 430 23.0 
			 Wiltshire 0 0 — 35,740 1,590 22.5 
		
	
	
		
			  Secondary schools(30) 
			  FTE pupils FTE teachers(31) Pupil:teacher ratio 
		
		
			 England 3,324,700 195,240 17.0 
			 North east 179,140 10,910 16.4 
			 Darlington 6,350 360 17.5 
			 Durham 33,000 1,950 16.9 
			 Gateshead 12,020 760 15.7 
			 Hartlepool 6,660 400 16.6 
			 Middlesbrough 5,810 380 15.1 
			 Newcastle-upon-Tyne 17,470 1,100 15.9 
			 North Tyneside 13,820 870 16.0 
			 Northumberland 30,560 1,730 17.7 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 10,330 660 15.7 
			 South Tyneside 10,260 650 15.9 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 12,890 780 16.6 
			 Sunderland 19,980 1,280 15.6 
			 
			 North-west 472,520 29,080 16.2 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 9,610 600 16.0 
			 Blackpool 8,740 530 16.5 
			 Bolton 19,940 1,240 16.1 
			 Bury 12,010 680 17.6 
			 Cheshire 47,720 2,820 16.9 
			 Cumbria 35,310 2,180 16.2 
			 Halton 8,310 520 16.0 
			 Knowsley 10,190 640 16.0 
			 Lancashire 76,690 4,600 16.7 
			 Liverpool 33,460 2,190 15.2 
			 Manchester 23,670 1,490 15.9 
			 Oldham 16,770 1,080 15.5 
			 Rochdale 14,400 860 16.8 
			 Salford 12,720 790 16.1 
			 Sefton 21,220 1,340 15.8 
			 St. Helens 12,210 770 15.9 
			 Stockport 17,070 1,030 16.6 
			 Tameside 15,970 960 16.6 
			 Trafford 16,360 980 16.7 
			 Warrington 14,150 880 16.1 
			 Wigan 21,400 1,320 16.2 
			 Wirral 24,620 1,580 15.5 
			 Yorkshire and the 349,320 20,810 16.8 
			 Humber 13,740 770 17.8 
			 Barnsley 34,660 2,150 16.1 
			 Bradford 15,440 930 16.6 
			 Calderdale 21,890 1,360 16.2 
			 Doncaster 23,490 1,330 17.7 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 16,220 830 19.6 
			 Kingston upon Hull 26,780 1,560 17.1 
			 Kirklees 48,080 2,910 16.5 
			 Leeds 11,730 650 18.0 
			 North East Lincolnshire 10,910 610 17.9 
			 North Lincolnshire 41,530 2,570 16.1 
			 North Yorkshire 20,430 1,330 15.4 
			 Rotherham 31,560 1,880 16.8 
			 Sheffield 22,390 1,280 17.4 
			 Wakefield 10,490 650 16.0 
			 York 10,099 631 16.0 
			 
			 East Midlands 297,210 17,370 17.1 
			 Derby 15,540 960 16.2 
			 Derbyshire 50,500 2,960 17.1 
			 Leicester 18,260 1,070 17.0 
			 Leicestershire 46,740 2,650 17.6 
			 Lincolnshire 47,430 2,700 17.6 
			 Northamptonshire 47,390 2,730 17.4 
			 Nottingham 13,920 910 15.3 
			 Nottinghamshire 55,070 3,230 17.0 
			 Rutland 2,360 140 16.9 
			 
			 West Midlands 380,080 22,490 16.9 
			 Birmingham 70,920 4,450 15.9 
			 Coventry 21,480 1,250 17.2 
			 Dudley 20,870 1,240 16.9 
			 Herefordshire 10,480 620 16.9 
			 Sandwell 19,990 1,140 17.5 
			 Shropshire 18,330 1,070 17.1 
			 Solihull 15,830 890 17.7 
			 Staffordshire 62,380 3,610 17.3 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 15,220 920 16.5 
			 Telford and Wrekin 10,650 620 17.1 
			 Walsall 21,480 1,330 16.2 
			 Warwickshire 34,210 1,980 17.3 
			 Wolverhampton 17,040 1,010 16.9 
			 Worcestershire 41,220 2,360 17.5 
			 
			 East of England 386,870 21,860 17.7 
			 Bedfordshire 37,740 2,060 18.4 
			 Cambridgeshire 32,670 1,750 18.7 
			 Essex 90,680 5,040 18.0 
			 Hertfordshire 79,290 4,630 17.1 
			 Luton 12,430 700 17.7 
			 Norfolk 46,190 2,660 17.3 
			 Peterborough 12,750 750 17.0 
			 Southend-on-Sea 12,210 690 17.7 
			 Suffolk 54,360 3,160 17.2 
			 Thurrock 8,570 410 20.8 
			 
			 London 42,1750 24,720 17.1 
			 Inner London 127,320 7,750 16.4 
			 Camden 9,690 620 15.7 
			 City of London 0 0 — 
			 Hackney 7,350 420 17.5 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 7,210 410 17.7 
			 Haringey 11,220 740 15.2 
			 Islington 7,860 490 16.0 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 3,500 220 15.6 
			 Lambeth 7,750 460 16.7 
			 Lewisham 11,640 750 15.5 
			 Newham 18,120 1,090 16.6 
			 Southwark 10,020 580 17.4 
			 Tower Hamlets 14,310 850 16.9 
			 Wandsworth 10,250 620 16.5 
			 Westminster 8,410 500 16.7 
			 
			 Outer London 294,430 16,970 17.3 
			 Barking and Dagenham 12,070 710 17.1 
			 Barnet 21,130 1,310 16.1 
			 Bexley 18,010 960 18.7 
			 Brent 15,930 950 16.7 
			 Bromley 22,230 1,260 17.6 
			 Croydon 18,660 1,040 17.9 
			 Ealing 14,940 840 17.7 
			 Enfield 21,610 1,270 17.1 
			 Greenwich 14,960 900 16.7 
			 Harrow 9,050 530 17.2 
			 Havering 16,520 930 17.7 
			 Hillingdon 17,800 990 18.0 
			 Hounslow 16,670 980 17.0 
			 Kingston upon Thames 9,340 550 17.1 
			 Merton 8,580 450 19.0 
			 Redbridge 20,000 1,180 16.9 
			 Richmond upon Thames 7,350 390 19.1 
			 Sutton 15,720 910 17.4 
			 Waltham Forest 13,850 830 16.6 
			 
			 South-east 511,580 29,180 17.5 
			 Bracknell Forest 6,110 330 18.2 
			 Brighton and Hove 12,390 760 16.2 
			 Buckinghamshire 34,620 1,840 18.8 
			 East Sussex 28,850 1,700 17.0 
			 Hampshire 72,630 4,240 17.1 
			 Isle of Wight 12,150 650 18.7 
			 Kent 98,120 5,610 17.5 
			 Medway 20,720 1,140 18.1 
			 Milton Keynes 12,870 750 17.3 
			 Oxfordshire 38,090 2,130 17.9 
			 Portsmouth 10,090 540 18.7 
			 Reading 6,170 390 16.0 
			 Slough 8,440 460 18.5 
			 Southampton 12,170 750 16.1 
			 Surrey 59,450 3,230 18.4 
			 West Berkshire 12,170 750 16.2 
			 West Sussex 45,030 2,630 17.1 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 10,490 620 16.9 
			 Wokingham 11,030 640 17.1 
			 
			 South-west 326,220 18,810 17.3 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 12,430 730 17.0 
			 Bournemouth 10,000 570 17.5 
			 Bristol, City of 16,660 1,030 16.2 
			 Cornwall 33,070 1,880 17.6 
			 Devon 42,300 2,410 17.5 
			 Dorset 30,570 1,720 17.8 
			 Gloucestershire 40,320 2,410 16.8 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 0 — 
			 North Somerset 12,930 760 17.1 
			 Plymouth 19030 1080 17.5 
			 Poole 8570 490 17.3 
			 Somerset 33,390 1,840 18.1 
			 South Gloucestershire 16,950 1,010 16.8 
			 Swindon 11,580 650 17.7 
			 Torbay 9200 540 17.0 
			 Wiltshire 29,220 1,680 17.4 
		
	
	(27) See paragraph 29 of the explanatory notes.
	(28) See paragraphs 45–47 of the explanatory notes.
	(29) Rounding of components may cause discrepancies in totals.
	(30) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(31) Includes full-time and the full-time equivalent of part-time qualified teachers.
	Notes:
	1. Includes qualified teachers (including those not in schools and teachers providing short-term cover) and teachers without Qualified Teachers Status employed in the maintained sector.
	2. These are ratios over all maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools; they do not reflect the actual deployment of teachers among different schools, nor the size of classes as taught.

Resources for Children and Learners

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his written ministerial statement of 16 September 2004, Official Report, columns 153–4WS, on Resources for Children and Learners, what funding has been set aside to close the per-pupil funding gap between 16 to 18 year olds in school sixth forms and further education colleges; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: On 16 September, the Secretary of State announced that total funding for the post-16 learning and skills sector, excluding Higher Education, will rise to £11 billion by 2007–08. We are doing further work in partnership with the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) on the details of our spending plans for the learning and skills sector. Details will be published at the time of release of the grant letter to the LSC.

School Exclusions (Somerset)

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils have been excluded from (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Somerset in each year since 1997.

Stephen Twigg: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		Maintained primary and secondary schools(32): number and percentage of permanently excluded pupils 1997/98 to 2002/03 Somerset local education authority
		
			  Primary Secondary 
			  Number of permanent exclusions Percentage of the school population(33) Number of permanent exclusions Percentage of the school population(33) 
		
		
			 1997/98 11 0.03 64 0.22 
			 1998/99 6 0.02 55 0.19 
			 1999/2000 12 0.03 49 0.16 
			 2000/01 15 0.04 38 0.12 
			 2001/02 16 0.04 43 0.13 
			 2002/03 22 0.06 37 0.11 
		
	
	(32) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(33) The number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) of pupils, excluding dually registered pupils.

Schools Access Initiative (Buckingham)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which schools in the Buckingham constituency benefited from the Schools Access Initiative in (a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03 and (c) 2003–04.

Margaret Hodge: The Schools Access Initiative (SAI) provides resources to help make schools accessible to disabled pupils. Over the period 2001–02 to 2003–04 we invested £220 million in the SAI.
	The funding is allocated to Local Education Authorities and it is for each authority to decide its priorities for spending. The table lists the schools in the Buckingham area that we believe have received funding from the Schools Access Initiative in each of the years 2001–02 to 2003–04:
	
		
			 School name Total (£000) 
		
		
			 2001–02  
			 Gawcott Infant 15,000 
			 Royal Latin 10,000 
			 2002–03  
			 Buckingham Primary 19,000 
			 Cottesloe School (Wing) 35,000 
			 Royal Latin 97,000 
			 Winslow CE Combined 13,000 
			 2003–04  
			 North Marston Infant 2,000 
			 Padbury Infant 12,000 
			 Winslow CE Combined 10,500

Spelling

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to promote spelling with imagery as a method for improving the teaching of spelling in schools.

Stephen Twigg: Developing good literacy skills, including the ability to spell with accuracy and confidence, is crucial to raising standards in English and other subjects, and for equipping pupils with the skills and knowledge they need for life beyond school.
	The National Literacy Strategy's Framework for Teaching sets out detailed guidelines for what pupils should be taught in each year of primary school, including key principles and activities for the teaching and learning of spelling appropriate to individual year groups.
	The Framework supports a balanced approach to teaching spelling which includes both the development of phonological awareness as well as the use of visual skills to support pupils in their learning. The use of visual skills might include recognising common letter strings and checking critical features of the word in terms of shape and length.
	Through the Primary Strategy schools can access a wealth of materials to support the teaching of literacy. For example the Planning Exemplification and Spelling programme for years 2 and 3 provides teachers with a range of structured activities to support pupils' spelling. These include a variety of highly visual activities such as labelling pictures and diagrams or "spotting the difference" between pairs of similar words.

Suicide

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school pupils have committed suicide where bullying was cited as a cause in each of the last five years.

Stephen Twigg: Data on the incidence of suicide where bullying was cited as a cause is not collected centrally and we do not hold this information.
	The Department is deeply concerned about the distress bullying causes and the effect it has on lives and we are determined to help schools to tackle the problem. Our guidance pack 'Bullying: Don't Suffer in Silence' and the anti-bullying charter and the anti-bullying website www.dfes.gov.uk/bullying offer detailed advice on preventing and addressing bullying.
	In November 2003 the Department launched our anti-bullying charter for schools at the first of a series of nine regional conferences. It is accompanied by a summary of effective practice to help schools review and enhance their anti-bullying policies. July 2004 saw the launch of the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA), a grouping of voluntary sector organisations, including Childline and the NSPCC. The Department has provided funding of £570,000 for the ABA to sustain the momentum for change. As part of this the ABA will launch the first ever national Anti Bullying week in November. A variety of events are planned, both nationally and locally, involving the Department, the ABA and schools. We shall continue to maintain our wholehearted commitment to combating bullying.

Sure Start

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to extend the Sure Start programme by expanding the number of children's centres beyond the current provision for disadvantaged wards.

Margaret Hodge: Additional funding for Sure Start announced by the Chancellor in the Budget and the Spending Review is ensuring that we advance further and faster towards our goal of a children's centre for every community and every constituency of this country. We will establish 2,500 children's centres in all of the 20 per cent. most deprived wards in England by 2007–08 and in pockets of deprivation beyond those wards, making Sure Start type services available to the 56 per cent. of poor children who live in those disadvantaged areas.
	We will publish in late this year a 10-year strategy for the early years, which will include details of the further roll out of children's centres beyond these disadvantaged areas.

Teaching Staff

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching assistants there were in Leicestershire on 1 September (a) 2001, (b) 2002, (c) 2003 and (d) 2004.

David Miliband: Information on teaching assistants is collected from the Annual School Census at January of each.
	Information for each of the years requested was published in table 20 of the Statistical First Release 34/2004 on 23 September 2004. A copy of this has been placed in the House of Commons Library. The Statistical First Release can also be accessed from the following URL: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000493/index.shtml

Teaching Staff

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many full-time equivalent (a) teachers and (b) non-teaching assistants there were in local education authority schools in (i) Yorkshire and Humber and (ii) City of York in (A) 1997 and (B) 2004.

David Miliband: The following table gives the full-time equivalent number of regular teachers, teaching assistants and other support staff in maintained schools in Yorkshire and the Humber Government office region and the City of York local education authority in January 1997 and 2004.
	
		
			  Regular teachers(34) Teaching assistants(35) Support staff (excluding teaching assistants) 2 
		
		
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 
			 1997 41,900 7,700 7,400 
			 2004 44,200 15,500 11,400 
			 
			 City of York 
			 1997 1,290 140 180 
			 2004 1,390 400 250 
		
	
	Sources:
	(34) DfES annual survey of teachers in service (Form 618G)
	(35) Annual School Census
	Teaching assistants include special needs support staff and minority ethnic support staff. Support staff include administrative staff, technicians and other support staff.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefit Appointees

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 16 September 2004, Official Report, column 1749W, on benefits, how many appointees for the receipt of benefits in each of the last five years (a) had their appointment revoked and (b) were subjected to further action by the Secretary of State.

Chris Pond: The information is not collated centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Benefits

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the linking rules are for the return on unchanged terms to each category of benefit; and on what date those linking rules were introduced.

Chris Pond: There are currently two main linking periods of eight weeks or twelve weeks allowing a customer to return to Income Support on unchanged terms after a break in claim. These periods are defined in regulation 3A of the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987 which came into force on 11 April 1988. (Specific linking periods exist for housing costs on Income Support. Housing Cost linking periods are defined in Schedule 3 of the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987 which was revised in October 1995 when major changes were introduced to the rules for the payment of housing costs by Income Support.)
	The main linking periods are referred to in legislation as the "Permitted Period". A customer whose entitlement to Income Support ceases because he or his partner becomes engaged in remunerative work has a maximum "permitted period" of 12 weeks in which he can reclaim with no impact on certain elements of his Income Support. A customer whose entitlement to Income Support ceases because of any other reason has a maximum "permitted period" of eight weeks in which he can reclaim with no impact on certain elements of his Income Support.
	It must be stressed that reclaiming within the eight week or 12 week period does not guarantee the customer will receive exactly the same amount of Income Support he was receiving previously. The "permitted period" is linked to specific elements of the Income Support and the overall total of Income Support will be affected by changes in the customer's circumstances that have occurred within the eight or 12 week period.
	The elements of Income Support that are affected by the permitted periods are Applicable amounts, Mortgage interest, Protected sums and Earnings to be disregarded. There are no rules which allow Pension Credit to be reinstated on unchanged terms following a break in the claim. Currently, for example, where a Pension Credit customer's entitlement ends for any reason they will need to make another claim. There is no guarantee that the benefit will be reinstated at the same rate as before, as there could have been a change in circumstances since the previous award. This would happen if there was a break in entitlement for any reason. There would be no linking provision for a short break in the claim.
	There is one linking rule in Pension Credit which allows the retention of an element of benefit. Pension Credit customers may be awarded a transitional extra amount if, on a previous Income Support or JSA (IB) award, they received a transitional addition. Where an award of Pension Credit, which included a transitional extra amount ends, and a repeat Pension Credit application is made within eight weeks of the earlier award, the applications "link", and the transitional extra amount from the previous application is retained. It must be stressed that reclaiming within eight weeks does not guarantee the customer exactly the same Pension Credit as previously, as changes in circumstances may have occurred within the eight week period.
	There are no linking rules when a new claim is made that prescribe that the claim be treated in the same manner as a previous application. The general rule is that a claim is assessed with reference to the legislation that is in force at the time.
	There is a "rapid reclaim" procedure which is a streamlined reclaiming process for those who reclaim IS/JSA and HB/CTB within 12 weeks of their previous entitlement ending. This is only an administrative easement.
	Where a claimant is benefiting from transitional protection under the rent officer referral arrangements which existed prior to January 1996, there can be a break in entitlement of up to four weeks.
	Linking rules may apply in the following circumstances:
	Claimants discharged and readmitted to hospital within 28 days. When a patient is discharged from hospital, and subsequently readmitted within 28 days, the total time spent in hospital is counted when calculating the day when benefit is to be downrated. If the break is 29 days or longer, a new period starts. This linking rule does not apply when working out whether the claimant has been absent from home for more than 52 weeks.
	Linking periods of incapacity: To qualify for the Disability Premium (DP) under the 364 day rule, the claimant must be sick and submitting evidence of incapacity for work. Periods of sickness link together if separated by 56 days or less, or 52 weeks for Welfare to Work beneficiaries (see point 3 below). Any period spent in hospital counts towards the 364 day qualifying period. If, after a claimant has qualified for DP, there is a break in incapacity of eight benefit weeks or less, the claimant does not have to meet the 364 day qualifying period again.
	Fifty two week benefit protection: This benefit protection period is a period of 52 weeks following return to work (or training for work) in which periods of incapacity can be linked, or during which the right to certain transitional protections may be preserved. A Jobseeker's Allowance customer may return to benefit at their pre-existing rate if they re-claim within a certain number of weeks of leaving. The standard period for JSA is 12 weeks.
	The effect of this "linking rule" is that the two claims for JSA with a gap of less than 12 weeks between them are counted as one. This means that when the customer makes a further claim for JSA, for example after a spell of temporary work, they do not have to serve a further set of waiting days before JSA starts to be paid.
	In addition, if they were previously receiving help with mortgage interest, they will not have to serve a further qualifying period before this help resumes. Their benefit position will be the same as when they moved off JSA. These rules have been in place since JSA was introduced in October 1996.

Benefits

Anne Picking: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average length of time is before gaining employment for which claimants were in receipt of jobseeker's allowance in (a) East Lothian constituency and (b) the rest of the UK in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: The available information is in the tables.
	
		Jobseeker's allowance (JSA) claims terminating between June 2003 and May 2004 in East Lothian parliamentary constituency area, by reason for termination and average (median) length of claim on termination
		
			  Reason JSA claim terminates Number of claims terminating (thousand) Average (median) duration of terminated claims (days) 
		
		
			 All reasons 2.2 67 
			 Found work 1.3 64 
			 Other reasons 0.9 85 
		
	
	
		Jobseeker's allowance claims terminating between June 2003 and May 2004 in Great Britain (excluding East Lothian parliamentary constituency), by reason for termination and average (median) length of claim on termination
		
			  Reason JSA claim terminates Number of claims terminating (thousand) Average (median) duration of terminated claims (days) 
		
		
			 All reasons 2,205.8 72 
			 Found work 1,099.2 61 
			 Other reasons 1,106.6 88 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. 'Other reasons' categories include customers who have: deceased; gone abroad; claimed another benefit; entered full-time education; ceased to claim; failed to attend; reached retirement age; claimed incapacity benefit or income support; started training; started on an Employment Zone; had an unfavourable decision on their claim; gone to prison; attended court; started an Employment Zone work placement.
	2. Figures are given for those who were previously receiving JSA, and therefore exclude claimants who were signing for national insurance credits only.
	3. Figures are claim-based. If an individual claims then terminates a claim on more than one occasion in the period, then they will be counted more than once.
	4. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory, and are based on constituency boundaries at May 1997.
	5. The "found work" category includes claims terminating on finding work, working on average 16 hours or more a week, and New Deal Employers option.
	6. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and will be subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	7. Numbers of claims are rounded to the nearest hundred and are expressed in thousands.
	8. Average provided is the median claim length of claims that have terminated in the period. It is not possible to produce a mean duration for JSA claims, as reliable start dates are not available for all claims starting before 1992. A mean would therefore be biased upwards by a small number of long durations.
	9. Data for part (b) of the question are given for the rest of Great Britain rather than the United Kingdom, as our sample only includes Great Britain cases.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, 5 per cent. samples.

New Deal for the Disabled

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) Morley and Rothwell and (b) England have taken up the New Deal for the Disabled.

Jane Kennedy: 69,190 people have started the New Deal for Disabled People in England. The information is not available at constituency level.
	Note:
	1. Figures relate to registrations with a Job Broker from June 2001 when the programme was introduced nationally to June 2004 and are rounded to the nearest 10.

Pensions

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of eligible pensioners in the Forest of Dean who have not taken up pension credit; and how many are women.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available in the form requested. However, we estimate that approximately 300,000 households in the South West Government Office Region (GOR), corresponding to approximately 400,000 individuals (rounded to the nearest 50,000), are likely to be eligible for Pension Credit in 2004–05. Information on the number of Pension Credit recipients in the South West GOR and in the Forest of Dean is given in the table.
	
		Pension Credit recipients, 31 August 2004
		
			  South West GOR Forest of Dean 
		
		
			 Household 216,360 3,825 
			 Individual recipients 264,230 4,770 
			 Female individual 177,270 3,175 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five
	2. Individual recipients include a small number of partners under age 60.

Pensions

Eric Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many senior citizens in Carlisle have benefited from the winter fuel allowance since 1997.

Malcolm Wicks: The number of senior citizens in the Carlisle constituency who have benefited from the winter fuel allowance since 1999–2000 is in the table. Information relating to the 1997–98 and 1998–99 winters is not available.
	
		
			  Payments made 
		
		
			 1999–2000 15,080 
			 2000–01 16,470 
			 2001–02 16,610 
			 2002–03 16,780 
			 2003–04 16,810 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. sample.

Pensions

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people living in the London Borough of Wandsworth are in receipt of a state retirement pension.

Malcolm Wicks: As at 31 March 2004, the number of people living in the London Borough of Wandsworth in receipt of state pension was 29,000. Of these 10,100 were male and 19,000 were female.
	Notes:
	1. State pension recipient figures relate to people getting any state pension (basic or additional) or graduated retirement benefit who reside in the London Borough of Wandsworth. 2. Figures are obtained from a 5 per cent. sample of cases and are therefore subject to a high degree of sampling variation. 3. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred and totals may not sum due to rounding. 4. Local authorities are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant Office for National Statistics, postcode directory.
	Source:
	IAD Information centre, 5 per cent. sample.

Pensions

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of SERPs pension can be inherited by (a) a woman aged over state pension age and (b) a man aged over state pension age, if their spouse dies before reaching pension age; and what assessment has been made of the compatibility of this policy with the Human Rights Act 1998.

Malcolm Wicks: Subject to the entitlement rules, the maximum percentage of a state earnings-related pension scheme (SERPS) pension that may now be passed on to a surviving spouse depends on when the person who paid into SERPS reached or would have reached State Pension age. This applies equally to men and women.
	Where the late spouse is under State Pension age when they die different rules on inheriting a SERPS pension apply to men and women. A widower in this situation can not currently inherit any of his late wife's SERPS pension whereas a widow can. From 6 April 2010, the rules will be equalised so that a man will be able to inherit a proportion of his late spouse's SERPS pension in the same way as a woman can.
	Our assessment is that the changes over time for both the inheritance of SERPS and equalisation of State Pension age comply fully with both Community law and the European Convention on Human Rights.

Pensions

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he will take to ensure that widows and widowers whose spouse opted out of SERPs inherit the same proportion of their spouse's pension as people of the same age who did not opt out.

Malcolm Wicks: Widows and widowers whose spouse was contracted-out of SERPS already inherit the same proportion of SERPS as those whose spouse did not. However, where the spouse had been contracted-out, the survivor also inherits a proportion of the contracted-out rights—the Guaranteed Minimum Pension. In order to avoid double provision from public funds the amount of SERPS paid to those whose spouse was contracted-out is reduced by the inherited Guaranteed Minimum Pension. In general this is intended to result in a widow or widower whose spouse had been contracted-out receiving the same amount as the widow or widower of an individual who did not.

SERPS

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the state earnings related pension scheme element of the state pension is annually up-rated at the same rate as the basic element of the state pension; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Section 150 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 requires the Secretary of State to review the amount payable in respect of both the basic and the additional state pension annually and to increase them in line with the general level of prices. He is not required to increase them by the same rate. We have undertaken for this Parliament to increase the basic state pension each year by the higher of 2.5 per cent. or price inflation. Both the basic and the additional state pension were increased in April 2004 by 2.8 per cent., which represented the increase of the general level of prices for that year.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

EU Constitution Referendum

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans he has for a campaign to encourage people to turn out to vote in the referendum on the European Constitution.

Christopher Leslie: The Government has no plans to supplement the role already played by the Electoral Commission, who have responsibility for any initiatives related to encouraging turnout or participation in referendums.

FOI Act

Tony Wright: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs which public authorities the Secretary of State intends to designate for the purpose of section 53(1) (a) (iii) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and which public authorities have been the subject of consultation under section 53(5) of that Act.

Christopher Leslie: No decisions have been taken about whether to introduce an order under section 53(1)(a)(iii) of the Freedom of Information Act. If a decision were taken to introduce an order under section 53 (1)(a)(iii), we would consult with the relevant public authorities as set out in section 53(5).

International Private Law

Tim Boswell: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what action his Department is taking to strengthen its capacity to (a) monitor, (b) handle and (c) advise other Government Departments and agencies on developments in international private law.

Christopher Leslie: On 16 July this year, Lord Filkin, then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Constitutional Affairs, announced that the Advisory Committee on Private International Law would have a greatly remit. The task of this Committee is to advise Ministers and officials on all significant issues which arise in this area, whether in the context of developments within the European Community, other international negotiations or in relation to our national law. The Committee is chaired by Sir Peter North QC and consists of eminent judges, practitioners and academics with particular expertise in this complex and important area of the law.

Judiciary (Equal Opportunities)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on his proposals to attract more (a) women, (b) ethnic minorities and (c) disabled people to the judiciary.

Christopher Leslie: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Redcar on 14 October 2004, Official Report, column 359W.

Lay Magistrates

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many lay magistrates have been recruited in (a) the London Borough of Havering, (b) Greater London and (c) England and Wales in each of the last 10 years.

Christopher Leslie: The numbers of magistrates recruited for each of the last 10 years in each area is:
	
		
			 Year end England and Wales(36) Greater London Havering 
		
		
			 31 March 2004 1,768 157 7 
			 31 March 2003 1,685 141 6 
			 31 March 2002 1,786 161 4 
			 31 March 2001 1,618 194 3 
			 31 March 2000 (37)— 175 6 
			 31 December 1999 1,743 75 8 
			 31 December 1998 1,609 71 3 
			 31 December 1997 1,312 108 4 
			 31 December 1996 1,682 134 6 
			 31 December 1995 1,843 62 2 
		
	
	(36) Figures include the Duchy of Lancaster.
	(37) Figures not available as the database was found to be inaccurate when the database was checked.

Lord Chancellor (Consultations)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what consultations the Lord Chancellor has had with Her Majesty the Queen in each of the past 12 months.

Christopher Leslie: By long-standing convention, communications between Ministers and Her Majesty The Queen are confidential. Information about any such consultations is exempt under Exemption 3 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (communications with the Royal Household).

Queen's Counsel

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many and what percentage of practising barristers are Queen's Counsel.

Christopher Leslie: There are 13,985 practising barristers in England and Wales. 1,239 of these barristers (approximately 9 per cent.) are Queen's Counsel.

Unpaid Fines

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  what percentage of fines were unpaid (a) fully and (b) partially in each of the last 15 years following a criminal conviction in England and Wales;
	(2)  how many fines were collected as a result of enforcement procedures in each of the last five years.

Christopher Leslie: Information on fines imposed and collected is provided by the 42 Magistrates Courts Committees (MCCs) in England and Wales. The following table shows the payment rate for the last five years—comparative data are not available for years prior to 1999–2000. Data regarding the proportion of fines that are unpaid (a) fully or (b) partially are not held centrally and could be made available only at disproportionate cost. However, data in the Home Office Research Paper, "Clearing the Debts: The Enforcement of Financial Penalties in Magistrates' Courts" (March 2003), indicate that 26 per cent. of fines are paid in full without the need for enforcement action, with the balance of the payment rate being the result of enforcement activity. The DCA's Enforcement Programme is working towards improving data collection for enforcement but this is reliant on the introduction of new IT systems, due from 2005.
	
		
			 Period Payment rate (percentage) 
		
		
			 1999–2000(38) 62 
			 2000–01(38) 63 
			 2001–02(38) 59 
			 2002–03(38) 55 
			 2003–041,2,3 74 
			 2004–05(40) 78 
		
	
	(38) Payment rate (September 1999 to March 2003)
	The primary indicator was the payment rate defined as the amount paid into court as a percentage of new amounts owed.
	(39) Payment rate (April 2003 to-December 2003)
	The calculation for the payment rate between April 2003 and, December 2003 was:
	Payment rate = amount paid divided by new amount owed
	(new amount owed excludes legally cancelled + civil + confiscation orders).
	(40) Payment rate (January 2004 onwards)
	Payment rate = amount paid divided by new amount owed
	(new amount owed excludes legally cancelled + administratively cancelled + civil + confiscation orders).
	Note:
	Payment rate = amount paid divided by new amount owed.
	(new amount owed excludes legally cancelled + administratively cancelled + civil + confiscation orders).
	As a result of the revisions in the method of calculating the payment rate, direct year-on-year comparisons cannot be made.

Unpaid Fines

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many fines imposed following a criminal conviction were (a) fully and (b) partially written off in each of the last 15 years.

Christopher Leslie: One of the key points in the 7-point action plan I announced in June 2003 was that fines will no longer be written off. They will be chased until they are paid. The new policy to deliver this was introduced on 5 January and from that date fines can no longer be written off, though there are limited circumstances where they can be administratively cancelled, for example, where the defaulter is deceased, has been sent to a mental health institution for 12 months or more, has emigrated or is a limited company which has been wound up with no goods on which to levy distress. Figures relating to the number of fines imposed written off prior to 5 January 2004 are not held centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

PRIME MINISTER

Iraq Survey Group

Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight, Official Report, 13 October 2004, column 284, what brief the Iraq Survey Group had in relation to securing weapons of mass destruction sites when it began its work in Iraq; and what arrangements were in place between the fall of the Saddam regime and the commencement of the group's work.

Tony Blair: The Iraq Survey Group was formed on 1 June 2003 to begin a more systematic collection of evidence to build an understanding of Iraqi WMD programs. The physical security of sites was the responsibility of coalition forces from the end of the conflict until the establishment of the Iraq Interim Government.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Carbon Sequestration

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the practical possibilities offered by carbon sequestration, in terms of tackling climate change.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 15 October 2004
	We have already published a report considering the Feasibility of Carbon Capture and Storage in the UK which can be found in the Libraries of the House or at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/coal/cfft/co2capture/review.pdf. The report concluded that Carbon Capture and Storage could be an effective means for reducing carbon emissions from fossil fuel power generation and could contribute to the Government's longer-term target of a 60 per cent. reduction by 2050, although there are a number of issues which need to be addressed in the meanwhile before it can become a reality.
	A Carbon Abatement Technology Strategy is currently being developed by the DTI which will be published at the turn of the year, this will include in its scope Carbon Capture and Storage technologies.

Company Data Protection

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action her Department is taking to allay customer concerns about the adequacy of data protection by companies that have moved parts of their business offshore.

Douglas Alexander: UK companies who control data remain responsible, under the Data Protection Act, for how data is processed overseas on their behalf. They remain bound by the requirements of the Data Protection Act, in particular the Act's requirement for data to be kept secure. The method of transfer must include measures to ensure the security of the processing and security against breaches of the Act. Companies must also be open with individuals about how information they collect on them is intended to be used.

Consumer Codes Approval Scheme

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date the Office of Fair Trading first invited industry bodies to apply under the Consumer Codes Approval Scheme; which sector bodies have applied to date; and at what stage each application is.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 15 October 2004
	The Office of Fair Trading is responsible for the Consumer Codes Approval Scheme. I will ask the Chairman to write to the hon. Member.

Consumer Safety

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) central and (b) local mechanisms are in place to ensure that (i) British manufactured and (ii) imported consumer products are legally safe.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The General Product Safety Regulations 1994 require that all consumer products placed on the market must be safe. In addition, there are a number of pieces of sector specific legislation which regulate the safety of particular products such as toys, cosmetics and furniture. The legislation relates to products placed on the market whether they are produced in the UK or imported. Enforcement of product safety is principally conducted by local authority trading standards departments in England, Wales and Scotland and by local authority environmental health officers in Northern Ireland.

Consumer Safety

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what resources are available for the carrying out of test purchases of products on the market to ensure they satisfy consumer protection legislation.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Enforcement of product safety, including test purchases, is principally conducted by local authority trading standards Departments in England, Wales and Scotland and local authority environmental health officers in Northern Ireland. There are 202 such authorities in total. It is for the individual authorities to determine what resources they devote to test purchases.

Consumer Safety

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the closure of the Consumer Safety Unit.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In order to better achieve our target of having among the best consumer protection and empowerment and competition regimes in the world, consumer safety has been integrated with the work of other units in the Department's Consumer and Competition Policy Directorate and Standards Policy Directorate. The UK is one of the safest places in Europe for consumers and we are working to maintain and improve that position.

Consumer Safety

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many consumer products have been checked under section 28 of the Consumer Protection Act 1987, broken down by (a) product type and (b) result.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Information on test purchases by local enforcement authorities is not collected centrally.

Consumer Safety

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 19 May 2004, Official Report, column 986W, on product safety, if she will make a statement on the (a) consultation on the draft regulations implementing the General Product Safety Directive and (b) the progress made towards implementing the regulations.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Transposition of the revised General Product Safety Directive 2001/95/EC continues to be a complex exercise. Officials are currently working with parliamentary counsel and Cabinet Office Legal Advisers to resolve a few last very detailed issues that have arisen out of the drafting process. This has led to some further delay but we hope to publish the second consultation on the basis of the draft regulations shortly.

Entrepreneurship Education

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action her Department has taken to promote enterprise among the over 50s; and if she will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In addition to its support for enterprise promotion across all age ranges, the DTI supports projects targeted at people over 50. As part of its support for Community Finance Development Institutions (CDFIs) it provides support to The PRIME Initiative Ltd., a national organisation offering access to finance for people over 50 seeking to set up a new business, where other lending institutions are traditionally reluctant do so. The Department's Enterprise Promotion Fund (EPF) is sponsoring enterprise awareness projects for the over 50s in North Yorkshire and Northumberland. These projects aim to construct a more robust bridge to enterprise by first demonstrating the possibility of starting a business and then signposting to the most appropriate support agency.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU the Committee for the management of generalised preference met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: Further to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 19 November 2003, Official Report, columns 979–80W, the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) Committee met in Brussels once during the Greek presidency on 25 March 2003. In addition, the GSP Working Party met on 27 February and 5 March 2003 to discuss changes to the GSP scheme. Both UK and Brussels-based staff attended these meetings.

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total outstanding debt owed to the Export Credits Guarantee Department by each country on guaranteed business since 1991 is; and what the (a) amounts at risk, (b) unrecovered claims and (c) the Moratorium Interest accrued on the unrecovered claim is for each country.

Douglas Alexander: As at 30 September 2004, ECGD's amounts at risk and unrecovered claims on business issued since 1 April 1991 were as detailed in the following table.
	As at 30 September 2004, there were no markets with Moratorium Interest arrears relating to business issued since 1 April 1991, as all such interest accrued to date under rescheduling agreements has been paid by the debtors.
	
		
			£ million 
			 Market AAR Claims AAR + claims 
		
		
			 Abu Dhabi 51.5 — 51.5 
			 Algeria 97.9 30.1 128 
			 Argentina 2.2 — 2.2 
			 Australia 87.7 8 95.7 
			 Austria 20.8 — 20.8 
			 Azerbaijan 91.6 — 91.6 
			 Bahrain 256.2 — 256.2 
			 Bangladesh 33 — 33 
			 Barbados 3.6 — 3.6 
			 Belgium 52.5 23.4 75.9 
			 Brazil 215.4 2.2 217.5 
			 Brunei 21.4 — 21.4 
			 Canada 174.6 20.8 195.4 
			 Chile 284.2 — 284.2 
			 China 938.2 — 938.2 
			 Colombia 8.1 1.3 9.4 
			 Costa Rica 0.1 — 0.1 
			 Ivory Coast — 14.6 14.6 
			 Croatia 29.6 — 29.6 
			 Cyprus 11.7 — 11.7 
			 Denmark 19.8 — 19.8 
			 Dominica 5.3 1.4 6.6 
			 Dominican Republic 37.7 — 37.7 
			 Dubai 7.3 — 7.3 
			 Egypt 114.3 — 114.3 
			 El Salvador 37.9 — 37.9 
			 Finland 17.5 — 17.5 
			 France 210.7 — 210.7 
			 Germany 4.7 — 4.7 
			 Ghana 46.6 51.7 98.3 
			 Greece 98.7 — 98.7 
			 Hong Kong 242 — 242 
			 Iceland 17.5 — 17.5 
			 India 167 — 167 
			 Indonesia 400 662.6 1,062.6 
			 Iran 263.2 — 263.2 
			 Israel 16.1 — 16.1 
			 Italy 29.2 — 29.2 
			 Jamaica 33.4 — 33.4 
			 Japan 0.1 — 0.1 
			 Jordan 9.3 — 9.3 
			 Kazakhstan 33.7 — 33.7 
			 Kenya 14.2 — 14.2 
			 Kuwait 20.2 — 20.2 
			 Lebanon 7 — 7 
			 Lesotho 2.9 — 2.9 
			 Lithuania 3.7 — 3.7 
			 Luxembourg 59.9 — 59.9 
			 Malaysia 758.5 — 758.5 
			 Maldives 7.7 — 7.7 
			 Malta 10.8 — 10.8 
			 Mauritius 27 — 27 
			 Mexico 154.7 1.3 156 
			 Morocco 10.1 — 10.1 
			 Netherlands 143.7 — 143.7 
			 Nigeria 140.6 — 140.6 
			 Norway 45.9 — 45.9 
			 Oman 381.5 — 381.5 
			 Pakistan 28.1 6.8 34.9 
			 Panama 6.8 — 6.8 
			 Papua New Guinea 33.3 — 33.3 
			 Paraguay 0.3 — 0.3 
			 Philippines 681.3 — 681.3 
			 Portugal 26.9 — 26.9 
			 Qatar 165.6 — 165.6 
			 Romania 167.2 — 167.2 
			 Russian Federation 205 — 205 
			 Saint Kitts and Nevis 7.1 — 7.1 
			 Saint Lucia 0.2 — 0.2 
			 Saudi Arabia 762.1 — 762.1 
			 Seychelles 0.5 1 1.5 
			 Singapore 113.2 — 113.2 
			 South Africa 952.8 — 952.8 
			 South Korea C86 175.8 — 175.8 
			 Sri Lanka 78.7 — 78.7 
			 Sweden 290.5 — 290.5 
			 Switzerland 117.6 27.5 145.1 
			 Taiwan 132.9 — 132.9 
			 Tanzania 1.1 — 1.1 
			 Thailand 74.5 — 74.5 
			 Tunisia 35.5 — 35.5 
			 Turkey 436.5 1.9 438.4 
			 Turkmenistan 5.3 — 5.3 
			 United Arab Emirates 412.6 — 412.6 
			 United Kingdom 32.6 — 32.6 
			 United States 627 — 627 
			 Uzbekistan 14.9 — 14.9 
			 Venezuela 88.5 — 88.5 
			 Vietnam 47.3 — 47.3 
			 Zimbabwe 28.5 88.4 116.9 
			 Grand Total 11,731 943 12,674

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Export Credits Guarantee Department has been approached for claims in relation to the Omkareshwar Dam Project in India.

Douglas Alexander: ECGD has not paid a claim or provided cover for a project of this description.

Gas Supplies

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the reasons for the recent rise in the cost of wholesale gas.

Mike O'Brien: Wholesale gas prices have risen recently due to a number of factors: high oil prices driving higher gas prices on the Continent, which feed into UK prices via the gas interconnector; the anticipated decline in gas production from fields on the UK Continental Shelf; and tighter gas markets as the UK moves towards becoming a net importer of gas. The recent Ofgem price probe also attributed these reasons for the current price movements, and the concurrent Financial Services Authority investigation into gas prices in October/November 2003 found no evidence of market abuse.
	The Government are working to ensure that the right framework is in place to allow the market to deliver sufficient quantities of gas at competitive prices. This is already happening as major new import projects come forward, due to come onstream over the next three years. The Government are also encouraging the European Commission to ensure prompt and full implementation of the second EU liberalisation package, which will contribute to the development of more competitive markets across Europe.

Least Developed Countries

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total value was of imports into the European Union from the least developed countries in each year from 2000 to 2003, broken down by type of import.

Douglas Alexander: Data on the European Union's imports from the Least Developed Countries are given in the following table.
	
		EU15 imports of goods from the least developed countries 2000–03 £ million
		
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Animal products 550 619 653 656 
			 Vegetable products 587 454 440 472 
			 Animal or vegetable fats 56 58 54 39 
			 Prepared foodstuffs, beverages 249 268 298 360 
			 Mineral products 1,398 1,781 1,948 1,538 
			 Chemicals, fertilisers, soap etc. 91 111 112 122 
			 Plastics and rubber and their articles 13 23 21 28 
			 Leather and articles 141 179 142 107 
			 Wood, cork, straw and their articles 151 161 149 146 
			 Pulp, paper, paper-board and articles 6 5 5 5 
			 Textile and textile products 2,558 2,825 2,646 3,048 
			 Footwear, headgear, umbrellas, articles of human hair 82 92 84 89 
			 Articles of stone, plaster, ceramic, glass 11 14 12 14 
			 Pearls, precious metals 1,360 1,242 1,342 1,008 
			 Base metals and articles of base metal (iron, steel, etc.) 102 328 356 413 
			 Machinery and mechanical appliances, electrical equip. 69 62 72 92 
			 Vehicles, aircrafts, vessels 279 541 599 469 
			 Optical, photo, medical instruments., clocks, etc. 17 17 21 21 
			 Arms and ammunition — — — — 
			 Miscellaneous manufactured articles like furniture, toys etc. 15 13 15 14 
			 Works of art, collectors' pieces and antiques 3 3 3 2 
			 Other products 10 10 9 12 
			 Total 7,746 8,807 8,980 8,657 
		
	
	Source:
	Eurostat Intra and Extra EU Trade.

Marine Development Fund

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria are being developed for the administration of the new Marine Development Fund.

Mike O'Brien: The Department is working closely with the Carbon Trust, Scottish Executive and other stakeholders to look at mechanisms for applying the new funding.
	Any scheme will be subject to state aid approval and so it would be premature to define specific criteria at this stage.

Marine Energy Extraction

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the suitability of sites in the Bristol Channel for the award of funding for the development of marine energy extraction projects.

Mike O'Brien: We now have the results of a study called 'ATLAS' which maps UK marine renewable sources of energy, including the Bristol Channel. The Atlas was commissioned to inform Government's decision-making process for the next stage of offshore renewable energy development. It will assist in planning strategic environmental assessment for the exploitation of marine renewables.
	Funding for marine renewables development is provided to industry. The suitability of a particular site, including the Bristol Channel, for carrying out development activity is a matter for the developer, subject to obtaining the necessary permissions.

Mobile Phones

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many mobile phones were used by (a) Ministers and special advisers and (b) officials in her Department in each year since 1997; how many were (i) lost and (ii) stolen; and what their cost was.

Patricia Hewitt: Responsibility for the provision of mobile telephones for official purposes and for payment of associated call charges was devolved to individual directorates, agencies and NDPBs at the end of March 1993. Since August 1997, the DTI has increasingly made use of the central Mobile Telecommunications contract managed by the Office of Government Commerce. This contract allows DTI users access to mobile telephone services and products at advantageous prices ensuring that the Department obtains good value for money. Due to the devolved responsibility for mobile telephone management the only information that can be provided at non-disproportionate cost is the total expenditure with DTI's main suppliers of mobile telephones and the number of handsets supplied through the central OGC contract since 2002.
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1998 90,881 
			 1999 263,123 
			 2000 226,695 
			 2001 342,964 
			 2002 (41)342,881 
			 2003 (42)410,372 
		
	
	(41) 549 mobile telephones on the central contract.
	(42) 776 mobile telephones on the central contract.
	Cost figures are not available for 1997 due to a change in the Department's accounting system over that period.

Offshoring

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment her Department has made of the impact on (a) the labour market and (b) pension provision of the loss of long-term skilled service sector jobs due to offshoring.

Douglas Alexander: The evidence so far of labour market trends is that 60 per cent. of workers who are displaced are about to find new work within three months, and 95 per cent. within a year. While we very much share the concerns of those who are affected by job losses, we do not at this stage see any medium-term adverse impact on labour markets or pension provision arising from offshoring.

Post Office

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent on consultants involved in setting up the Post Office Card Account scheme.

Gerry Sutcliffe: These are commercial matters for Post Office Ltd.

Radio Frequency Identification Technology

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in discussions between her Department and radio frequency identification technology suppliers and users.

Mike O'Brien: e.centre (The Association for Standards and Practices in Electronic Trade—BAN UK Ltd.) and relevant Trade Associations have formed a UK RFED Council. It is currently working with focus groups, retailers, manufacturers, officials and others to develop a code of practice for the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology in a retail environment.

Renewable Energy

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the Government's policy towards renewable energy, with particular reference to how she intends to deliver her statement at Brighton that renewable energy will power the equivalent of every home in 10 major cities over the next five years.

Mike O'Brien: We have set a target of 10 per cent. of the UK's electricity supply to come from renewable sources by 2010 with the aspiration to increase that contribution to 20 per cent. by 2020.
	The Government's main support mechanism for renewables is the Renewables Obligation. In addition to this, £500 million of funding has also been allocated between 2002 and 2008 for emerging renewable and low carbon technologies.
	On the basis that 1 per cent. of electricity supplied from renewable energy sources will supply the equivalent of the power to some 700,000 households, supplying power to the 3.27 million households in the UK's 10 largest cities would require just under 5 per cent. of electricity generated from renewable energy sources. At present all renewable energy sources supply only 2.7 per cent. of our electricity but in the light of the new wind projects, both onshore and offshore coming forward, renewables should be able to contribute well over 5 per cent. of our electricity in five years time.

Statutory Dismissal Procedure

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost of the recent reprinting by her Department of guidelines for businesses outlining the new statutory dismissal procedure was; and what the reason for the reprinting was.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information was sent out to small businesses to draw their attention to the new regulations on dispute resolution and to direct them to further guidance on implementation, which has been available since May 2004 on the Department's website—www. dti.gov.uk/resolvingdidputes.
	The reason for reprinting the material was that had the original version been read as a stand-alone document rather than, as intended, alongside the detailed guidance some of the information could have been misleading. The Government are determined that small businesses should have the clearest possible guidance on the new requirements, and I therefore decided that amended material should be produced.
	The cost of reprinting was £202,965.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had on the security measures put in place ahead of the Afghan elections on 9 October.

Bill Rammell: Detailed security arrangements for the Afghan Presidential elections held on 9 October were regularly discussed at official level. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary attended the Istanbul Summit in June at which NATO outlined the increased security support it would provide during the election period. The promised forces were put in place, with Spain and Italy providing NATO with a battalion each in Afghanistan while an 'over the horizon' force remained on stand-by.
	The UN, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the Coalition worked closely with the Afghan Government on providing a stable and secure environment for the elections. The Afghan National Police (ANP) and Afghan National Army (ANA) were responsible for front-line election security. But ISAF and coalition forces (including British forces) were available to support and assist the ANA and ANP if required. Despite fears of disruption by Taliban. al-Qaeda and other insurgents, the day went remarkably smoothly, with little violence. This was a credit to the ANA and ANP, and also to ISAF and Coalition forces.

Brazil (IAEA Inspection)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the decision by Brazil not to allow inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Denis MacShane: Brazil's Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) entered into force on 4 March 1994. The IAEA is now discussing with Brazil the adoption of an Additional Protocol given Brazilian concerns regarding access to its commercial uranium enrichment facility. We believe that the IAEA's inspection arrangements adequately protect commercial confidences and have urged Brazil to conclude an Additional Protocol at the earliest opportunity.

Burma

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on economic sanctions against the Government of Burma.

Douglas Alexander: We fully support the strengthening of restrictive measures in the EU Common Position on Burma, agreed by EU Foreign Ministers on 11 October, in response to the lack of progress Burma has made, including the continued detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the continued harassment of the National League for Democracy and the failure to allow a genuine open National Convention.
	Under the new measures, EU registered companies or organisations will be prohibited from making financial loans, credits or equities available to named Burmese State-owned enterprises (SOEs) which have sought to monopolise new investment in recent years. The measure allows for limited exemptions for the execution of existing obligations. To ensure transparency, member states will need to notify each other and the Commission if they grant any derogation to allow the extension of participation (stockholding) in the named SOEs, if such an extension is mandatory under an existing contract.
	We believe the strengthened EU Common Position sends a clear signal to the regime that all EU partners share grave concerns about the situation in Burma and that we will continue to press strongly for progress towards national reconciliation and respect for human rights.

Colombia

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Colombian Government regarding the safety of (a) human rights defenders and (b) other members of civil society since the discovery of Operation Dragon.

Bill Rammell: We are very concerned about the discovery of the alleged plot known as Operation Dragon (a showy right-wing plot to murder specific trades unionists, human rights defenders, politicians and social leaders). We have raised our concerns with the Colombian Government through our Embassy in Bogota, most recently with the Vice-President on 11 October and with the Attorney-General's office on 14 October. We have asked the Colombians to provide more information on the alleged plot, and have sought reassurances that they are taking appropriate measures to investigate it. The Embassy has also spoken to several of those whose names appear on the list of people that Operation Dragon is said to target. The Colombian authorities are conducting a thorough investigation through the Attorney-General's office. We will continue to monitor the situation. We regularly urge the Colombian Government to ensure the safety of civil society groups, including human rights defenders and trades unionists, and to involve actively such groups in the challenge of addressing the very serious problems that Colombia faces. I made this very point publicly during my visit to Colombia in June this year with Rory Murphy of the TUC. and have reinforced it in subsequent discussions with senior Colombian officials.

Consultants

John Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the contracts awarded by his Department to consultants in each of the last five years, stating in each case (a) the name of the consulting company, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the purpose for which the contract was awarded; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Expenditure on external consultants in general is reported annually in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) departmental report, available in the Library of the House and on the FCO's website: www.fco.gov.uk. Expenditure on individual contracts could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Overall expenditure on external consultants for the last five years is:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1998–99 14.5 
			 1999–2000 14.0 
			 2000–01 17.9 
			 2001–02 20.1 
			 2002–03 23.7

Cyprus

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment the Government has made of the compatibility of the Annan V Plan provisions on property with obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: We are content that the property component of the Annan Plan is compatible with the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949.

Democratic Republic of Congo

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the failure of the UN to find sufficient troops to deploy in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Chris Mullin: Under its previous mandate the UN force in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) was authorised to deploy up to 10,800 military personnel. On 1 October 2004 the Security Council adopted Resolution 1565 which authorised the deployment of a further 5,900 military personnel. The first two battalions of this increase should be in country by December 2004; the remainder, who will form a Brigade force in the troubled eastern region of the country, should be deployed by March 2005. We believe that this increase will improve MONUC's capabilities and enable it to fulfil its priority tasks over the next six months. The UN is now undertaking an assessment of the force and we will review MONUC's mandate and capabilities in the light of their report.

Democratic Republic of Congo

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the alleged violation of the arms embargo in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Chris Mullin: The Group of Experts appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General to investigate and monitor the UN arms embargo imposed on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 1493 (28 July 2003), submitted its first report in July 2004. Among other information, the report highlighted how porous the eastern border of the DRC is, and pointed to apparent breaches of the arms embargo. The Government supported the adoption of UNSCR 1552 (27 July 2004), which extended the arms embargo for one year and renewed the Group of Experts' mandate for six months. The Group has been tasked with providing further evidence of alleged breaches, so that the Security Council can decide upon the appropriate action to be taken.

Drug Trafficking

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the UK has taken to reduce international drug trafficking.

Bill Rammell: The Government view the reduction of international drug trafficking as an integral part of its national drug strategy. Operational activity overseas includes the deployment of over 50 Drug Liaison Officers working closely with governments and law enforcement agencies. Between April 2002 and March 2003, HM Customs and Excise seized 9.3 tonnes of cocaine and 9.4 tonnes of heroin destined for the UK.
	In addition to law enforcement co-operation overseas, the UK has an ongoing programme of bilateral and multilateral assistance to help increase counter-narcotics capacity and expertise. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Drugs and Crime Fund is one of the mechanisms for supporting overseas capacity building and is currently funding a wide range of projects in Latin America, the Caribbean, South Asia, Central Asia, Africa and Europe. The UK is also the lead international nation providing assistance to the Government of Afghanistan's effort to eradicate opium cultivation. The UK has committed £70 million over three years to assistance on counter narcotics in Afghanistan.

EU Arms Exports (Code of Conduct)

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the European Union Code of Conduct on Arms Exports.

Denis MacShane: The European Union Code of Conduct on Arms Exports was agreed in June 1998, during the UK Presidency of the EU. It sets out common criteria by which all EU member states must assess licence applications for the export of military equipment.
	The Code is recognised as the most effective regional standard in the area of strategic export controls. It has contributed significantly to the increase in the levels of transparency and responsibility in the arms export control policies of EU member states. In addition, a number of countries outside the EU have subscribed to the principles of the Code.
	The Code of Conduct is currently undergoing a review, at the instigation of the United Kingdom. The Government would wish to see changes to the Code include its extension to cover brokering and intangible technology transfers, as well as considerations for the export of items to be used for the overseas licensed production of military equipment.

EU Enlargement

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact on free movement within the European Union of the recent enlargement; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: There are four freedoms associated with the EU; free movement of goods, services, capital and labour.
	With regard to the free movement of goods, services and capital, the impact of enlarging the single market will be felt for many years to come; through increasing trade, job creation and economic growth. There has not been any in depth assessment made as yet. But based on previous enlargements, we expect prosperity to grow both in the new and old member states alike. When Spain and Sweden joined, our exports to them went up by a quarter. When Finland joined, they went up by a third. We estimate that this current enlargement will create 300,000 new jobs across the present EU and give UK GDP a boost of £1.75 billion.
	With regard to free movement of labour, the initial monitoring results from the Workers Registration Scheme show a positive impact on the UK economy. As my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary made clear when addressing the House on 26 April, we kept the commitments we made during the passage of the Accession Bill, namely not to take up the derogation restricting the free movement of workers in the Accession Treaty, on the basis of previous enlargement experiences and a sound economic analysis of the needs of the UK economy. The last few months have suggested that this decision was right, with applicants to the Worker Registration Scheme meeting recruitment difficulties in agriculture, hospitality and catering as well as providing a range of much needed skills across many sectors. The Worker Registration Figures show that during May and June, 24,198 Central and Eastern European migrants applied to register; of these 14,422 were in the country before 1 May and 8,172 were new arrivals. Accession nationals who were working here illegally have been able to regularise their status, affording their rights better protection and generating tax revenue. We estimate that since 1 May, registered workers are contributing over £4 million a week to the UK economy and paying over £0.5 million a week in tax. There is no evidence that accession workers are exploiting the benefits system.
	The UK's experience is similar to that of Sweden and Ireland who also opened their labour markets to accession state nationals. Both countries have not seen a dramatic increase in arrivals since 1 May. We are not aware of more general study of the impact of free movement of workers on those EU members who chose to take up the derogation.

EU Fisheries

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions the Minister for Europe has had with the EU Fisheries Commissioner.

Denis MacShane: None.

Gibraltar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions the Minister for Europe has had with the Chief Minister of Gibraltar.

Denis MacShane: I met with the Chief Minister of Gibraltar on 26 May, 21 and 30 September 2004. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary also met the Chief Minister on 26 May 2004.

Gibraltar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the case for a hon. Member representing Gibraltar.

Denis MacShane: Overseas Territories, including Gibraltar, are not part of the metropolitan UK. We therefore have no plans for a Member of Parliament to represent Gibraltar, or any other Overseas Territory.

Gibraltar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he intends to continue negotiations with the Spanish Government concerning Gibraltar's sovereignty.

Denis MacShane: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Tim Loughton) on 16 December 2003 Official Report, column 1417.

Greenhouse Gases

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the European Environment Agency regarding greenhouse gas emissions.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no recent discussions with the European Environment Agency. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs maintains contacts between the Government and the European Environment Agency.

Iran

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with the Iranian Government on terrorism.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 18 October 2004
	We regularly discuss with the Iranian Government their approach to terrorism and towards groups seeking to undermine the Middle East Peace Process through violence. The EU has made clear that its relations with Iran can make progress only if Iran takes action to address the EU's concerns, including in these areas. We continue to urge the Iranian authorities to ensure that groups engaged in terrorism and violence in Iraq, the Israel/Palestine region and elsewhere do not draw material or political support from inside Iran.

Iran

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had on the Iranian Nuclear Programme at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 11 October.

Denis MacShane: There was a general discussion on the EU's policy towards Iran. It was agreed that the EU should maintain pressure on Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, and to co-operate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency as required by recent Resolutions of the Agency's Board of Governors.

Iraq

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the International Atomic Energy Agency's findings on (a) access to sites in Iraq and (b) the potential loss of nuclear materials from Iraq.

Denis MacShane: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Carmichael) in the House on 12 October 2004, Official Report, columns 142–43.

Iraq

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide a breakdown of the staff at the British embassy in Baghdad by (a) rank, (b) gender and (c) nationality.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 12 October 2004
	There are currently 64 UK based members of staff serving at the British embassy in Baghdad, including representatives from the Department for International Development, the Ministry of Defence and the British Council. At the present time there are also 27 Locally Engaged Staff and 89 consultants.
	The breakdown of UK based staff is Ambassador, Deputy Head of Mission, Defence Attaché, four Counsellors, 19 First Secretaries, 10 Second Secretaries, 8 Third Secretaries and administrative staff. DFID also has a team working from the embassy building.
	Of the 64 UK based staff, 18 are female. Nine of the 27 Locally Engaged Staff are female, and 14 of the 89 consultants are female.
	All UK based staff hold British Nationality. All Locally Engaged Staff hold Iraqi nationality. The consultants come from at least 18 different nations.
	Staffing changes on a constant basis and is kept under review.

Iraq

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the level of attacks upon the Christian minority in Iraq;
	(2)  what protection is available for the Christian minority in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: There is no specific protection available solely for Christians in Iraq, apart from arrangements they make for themselves. Like all Iraqis, Christians are protected by members of the Iraqi Security Forces. However, there have been worrying reports, that in certain parts of Iraq, Christians are suffering discrimination and sometimes violent attack. Our diplomatic missions in Iraq meet with representatives of the Christian community and we regularly raise their concerns with the Iraqi authorities.

Iraq Survey Group Report

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government have been provided with the full version of the Iraq Survey Group report, including the names of the United States oil companies and individuals that traded with Iraq.

Denis MacShane: Yes. A full version of the report was passed, in confidence, to the Government. The version which the Iraq Survey Group subsequently published was redacted for legal and security reasons.

Ministers' Private Offices

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the running costs of Ministers' private offices in his Department have been in each year since 1997.

Bill Rammell: The cost in cash terms of running the ministerial private offices (five prior to financial year 2001–02 and six since) are laid out in the following table:
	
		
			 Financial year Costs (£) 
		
		
			 1997–98 1,920,246 
			 1998–99 1,791,783 
			 1999–2000 2,360,535 
			 2000–01 2,341,747 
			 2001–02 2,268,543 
			 2002–03 2,333,481 
			 2003–04 2,585,503 
		
	
	The budget (projected spend) for the 2004–05 financial year is £2,306,700.

Ministers' Private Offices

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the Department spent on (a) maintenance, (b) renovation, (c) council tax and (d) running costs of residential properties used by Ministers and officials in each year since 1997.

Bill Rammell: In the UK, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office maintains official residential accommodation for my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary at No. 1 Carlton Gardens. The spend each year on (a) maintenance, (b) renovation, (c) council tax and (d) running costs since 1997 is as follows.
	
		
			£ 
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Maintenance 19,093 3,510 24,561 15,918 1,245 4,089 8,910 
			 Renovation 3,354 15,246 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Council tax 202 325 350 375 410 491 570 
			 
			 Running costs
			 Rent 15,225 25,180 27,300 54,000 54,000 54,000 54,772 
			 Utilities 6,637 8,048 1,620 4,723 5,251 3,971 2,150 
			 Total 44,511 52,309 53,831 75,016 60,906 62,551 66,402

Mr. Najib Muhammed Tahir

Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take immediate steps to enable Mr. Najib Muhammed Tahir to enter the UK following the representations made to him, reference GV100/91329/NMJ Post Ref 643719.

Chris Mullin: holding answer 18 October 2004
	I will write to my hon. Friend.

Pakistan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent changes in the level of (a) attacks and (b) human rights violations of Christians in Pakistan.

Douglas Alexander: The British Government are concerned by all reports of violent incidents involving the persecution of Christians in Pakistan. We have noted that this persecution continues but have not detected any significant changes. We continue to remind the Government and authorities in Pakistan of the importance we attach to respect for human rights.

Pakistan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Pakistani authorities on their interpretation of the blasphemy law and allied legislation.

Douglas Alexander: We have raised our concerns about blasphemy laws, bilaterally and with EU colleagues, with the Pakistani Government on a number of occasions. Most recently the Secretary of State for Defence discussed the blasphemy laws and other related legislation when he met President Musharraf in Islamabad on 6 October.

Pakistan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will intervene in the cases of (a) Pastor Yousaf, recently kidnapped in Hyderabad and (b) Asghar Masih, accused of blasphemy.

Douglas Alexander: We are aware of the cases of both Pastor Yousaf and Asghar Masih. We take a serious view of all cases of religious intolerance and discrimination in any form and condemn any instance in which individuals are persecuted because of their faith.
	Our High Commission in Islamabad will be raising both these cases with the Pakistani Parliamentarians Commission for Human rights in Pakistan at their next meeting.

Palestinian Territory

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in the Palestinian territory.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 18 October 2004
	We remain extremely concerned by the situation in Gaza. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary issued a statement on 4 October and expressed our concern to Israeli Foreign Minister Shalom the same day. My noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean also raised this with the Israeli ambassador on 6 October. On 13 October the Foreign Secretary issued a second statement reiterating his concerns, and the issue was again raised at official level with the Israeli ambassador. Copies of the Foreign Secretary's press releases are available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: www.fco.gov.uk/policy/news/press-releases. British embassy officials in Tel Aviv have lobbied the Israeli Defence Force (IDF), and we continue to urge Israel to act proportionately, with restraint and in accordance with international law. We also have continuing concerns about closures and the IDF presence elsewhere in the Occupied Territories.
	The Palestinian Authority also has a clear obligation to prevent terrorist attacks, including Qassam rocket attacks, emanating from the territories they control. We continue to support the Palestinian Authority in order to build up its effectiveness in delivering security.

Paul Cleasby

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the arrest of Paul Cleasby of Windermere, Cumbria on 27 September in Antalya, Turkey and his subsequent imprisonment; what representations he has made to the Turkish government on this matter; and what advice and support the Government will provide to Mr. Cleasby and his family.

Chris Mullin: holding answer 18 October 2004
	Paul Cleasby was arrested on 27 September for attempting to smuggle antiquities out of Turkey. On 28 September the Turkish prosecutor reviewed the evidence and decided Mr. Cleasby should remain in custody while investigations continued. Consular staff in Antalya are in regular touch with Mr. Cleasby, and staff in the UK are in touch with his family. Mr. Cleasby's lawyer has raised an objection to his continued imprisonment with the Turkish prosecutor, and we understand that the next court hearing will take place on 8 November.
	As the case proceeds we will continue to offer the appropriate consular assistance to Mr. Cleasby and his family.

Spain

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Minister for Europe next plans to visit Spain.

Denis MacShane: Foreign engagements for myself and other Ministers are kept under constant review. It is not our practice to announce such visits until they are firm. Because of the unpredictable nature of world events, final decisions on overseas visits are often not possible until very shortly before the day of travel and occasionally not until they are under way.

Ukraine

Clive Soley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the conduct of the elections in the Ukraine.

Bill Rammell: I refer my hon. Friend to the declaration on the conduct of the elections in Ukraine issued by the EU on 29 September and to the conclusions of the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) on 11 October. In the conclusions the GAERC called for Ukraine to
	"safeguard all necessary conditions for holding free, fair and transparent presidential elections this autumn".
	The conclusions also reminded the Ukranians that
	"the conduct of the elections will be proof of Ukraine's commitment to the democratic values of the Council of Europe and the OSCE, and bears great significance for EU-Ukraine relations".
	The full text of the EU declaration is available on the Presidency's website at http://www.eu2004.nl/default. asp7CMSJTEM-A19580D690DA410EAAE6EFC2 DAFE707X1X48135X75 and the conclusions of the GAERC at http://ue.eu. int/cms3 applications/applications/newsRoom/loadBook.asp?BID=71&L ANG=l&cmsid=349.

HEALTH

Age-related Macular Degeneration

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people with macular disease have been provided with low vision aids on the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 15 October 2004
	Figures are not held centrally about low vision aids provided to people with macular disease.
	Low vision aids are available free on loan, to any person requiring them. The hospital eye service and social services each have a role to play in providing low vision aids and aids to daily living. The provision of any such aid will be based on an assessment of an individual's needs.

Children's Epilepsy

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many specialist children's epilepsy nurses there are in each primary care trust area;
	(2)  how many consultants specialise in treating children with epilepsy, broken down by trust.

John Hutton: Information on the number of consultants and nurses specialising in treating children with epilepsy is not collected centrally. Information on the number of consultants employed in the national health service with a specialty in paediatrics, by trust, has been placed in the Library.
	Between September 1997 and June 2004, the number of paediatric consultants employed in the NHS has increased by 616, or 51 per cent., and between September 1997 and March 2004, the number of nurses overall employed in the NHS has increased by 77,503.

Eye Health Services

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the population (a) over 75, (b) over 60 and (c) over 50 are affected by age-related macular degeneration.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 14 October 2004
	Information on the number of people with age related macular degeneration is not collected centrally. A study, sponsored by the Macular Disease Society in 2001, estimated that there were 182,000 people with age-related macular degeneration with a best eye visual acuity below that judged appropriate for certification as blind or partially sighted. A breakdown by age is not available.

Eye Health Services

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the population suffering from age-related macular degeneration he estimates are in contact with health services.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 14 October 2004
	The vast majority of patients with age-related macular degeneration are treated as outpatients. Although aggregate outpatient data has been collected for sometime now, the central collection of detailed clinical information has not been mandated. However, processes are being put in place to enable the Department to collect and publish this information in the future.
	Those diagnosed with macular disease and treated as inpatients are shown in the table. The table shows the number of hospital admissions 1 during 2002–03 to National Health Service hospitals in England for those diagnosed with degeneration of macular and posterior pole and hereditary retinal dystrophy.
	1 Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. These figures have not (yet) been adjusted for shortfalls in data.
	
		
			 Diagnosis All ages 
		
		
			 Degeneration of macula and posterior pole (ICD-10 diagnosis code H35.3) 3,411 
			 Hereditary retinal dystrophy (ICD-10 diagnosis code H35.5) 78 
			 Total 3,489 
		
	
	The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) published its final guidance on photodynamic therapy (PDT) as a treatment for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) on 24 September 2003. NICE recommended PDT as a treatment of wet AMD for individuals who have a confirmed diagnosis of classic with no occult subfoveal choroidal neovascularisaiton (CNV) and best corrected visual acuity of 6/60 or better. It also recommended that patients with predominantly classic CNV should only receive PDT as part of clinical trials.
	All primary care trusts have put arrangements in place to fund treatment for patients who have either the wholly classic form of age-related macular degeneration or the predominantly classic form.

Eye Health Services

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial support the Government are providing to voluntary organisations to develop low-vision services.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 14 October 2004
	A report in 1999 by a consensus group of organisations on the future of low vision services recommended the establishment of local low vision committees for the purpose of ensuring that services in the United Kingdom are provided in accordance with best practice. The recommended low vision services committees are intended to bring together the national health service, social services, opticians and voluntary organisations to improve co-ordination in the commissioning and delivery of services for the blind and partially sighted.
	This Department commended the report to the NHS and social services and contributed a grant of £120,000 over three years, 2000–01 to 2002–03, to fund an implementation officer from the Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) to help in setting up these local committees. To date, 66 committees have been established across the country. Two more are soon to be established and there are currently expressions of interest for 30 more.
	The RNIB is currently undertaking an evaluation of this work. The Department awarded the RNIB a grant of £27,811 for this in 2003–04.
	The eye care services steering group was set up in December 2002 to develop proposals for the modernisation of NHS eye care services. The group has developed model care pathways for glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, low vision and cataract. The pathways aim to encourage the development of integrated eye care services to ensure that patients receive a high quality service in a convenient setting without undue wait.
	As part of the eye care services steering group's work, we have made available £4 million to fund eight pilot sites testing the new pathways. Of the eight pilot sites, three cover glaucoma, three low vision, one age-related macular degeneration, and the eighth covers all the pathways. The RNIB is an active partner in two of the low vision pilot sites, benefiting from Department funding for this work.

GP Lists

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the average general practitioner list size for (a) each strategic health authority and (b) each primary care trust.

John Hutton: Information showing the average general list size for each strategic health authority and each primary care trust in England, as at 30 September 2003, has been placed in the Library.

Health Services (York)

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in (a) England, (b) Yorkshire and Humber and (c) City of York have contacted NHS Direct in each year since it was established.

Rosie Winterton: NHS Direct call data is not collected centrally on how many people have contacted NHS Direct in Yorkshire and Humber, and the City of York. The number of people that have used NHS Direct in England since it was established is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Financial year Total calls handled Accumulative total calls 
		
		
			 1998–99 110,000 110,000 
			 1999–2000 1,650,000 1 ,760,000 
			 2000–01 3,420,000 5,180,000 
			 2001–02 5,213,062 10,393,062 
			 2002–03 6,318,844 16,711,906 
			 2003–04 6,427,321 23,139,227 
			 2004(43) 3,147,170 26,286,397 
		
	
	(43) To September.
	Source:
	NHS Direct health intelligence unit.

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the status of the (a) chairman and (b) chief executive of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust will be if foundation status is approved;
	(2)  what the procedures are for appointing a new (a) chairman, (b) chief executive and (c) trust board under the foundation trust proposals.

John Hutton: National health service foundation trusts are directly accountable to their local community through their board of governors, which includes governors elected from the membership community (local people, patients and staff) and people appointed from primary care trusts and local authorities. It is up to each NHS foundation trust to determine the detail of the arrangements for the membership and to decide on the size and shape of their board of governors in the light of their local circumstances and within certain minimum parameters set out in the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003. Each NHS foundation trust must make provision in its constitution for the conduct of elections to the board of governors, which must comply with any regulations in accordance with section 35 of the Act.
	The board of governors appoints the chair and other non-executive directors of the NHS foundation trust in accordance with schedule 1 of the Act. The chief executive is appointed by the non-executive directors, subject to the approval of the board of governors.
	The Act provides for different procedures to apply to the appointment of the chair, non-executive directors and chief executive when a NHS foundation trust that was a NHS trust is first authorised. These procedures are aimed at ensuring continuity of the organisation over the transition to the new governance arrangements. Under provisions in schedule 1 of the Act, the chief executive is appointed as chief executive and the chair and non-executive directors of the applicant NHS trust are appointed to the board of directors of the NHS foundation trust if, in each case, the person concerned wishes to appointed. The chair and non-executive directors are appointed for the remainder of their term on the NHS trust board or 12 months, whichever is the longer. Subject to minimum legal requirements, the size and shape of the board of directors is locally determined.

Mental Health

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the gross expenditure on mental health services by each primary care trust in Devon was in each year since 1997–98.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 18 October 2004
	The information requested is only available for 2000–01 to 2003–04. The table shows expenditure by each primary care trust (PCT) in Devon which was established in the relevant year.
	
		Expenditure on the commissioning of mental illness services by PCTs in Devon
		
			  Gross expenditure (£000) 
			  2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 East Devon PCT n/a 61 8,293 8,863 
			 Exeter PCT n/a 1,307 9,438 9,694 
			 Mid Devon PCT n/a 492 12,932 14,496 
			 North Devon PCT n/a 32 10,384 11,798 
			 Plymouth Teaching PCT n/a 3,414 25,949 32,666 
			 South Hams and West Devon  PCT 3,283 6,809 4,904 6,539 
			 Teignbridge PCT n/a 6,837 11,311 7,014 
			 Torbay PCT 4,360 8,984 7,960 9,628 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. n/a indicates that the PCT had not been established.
	2. Mental health expenditure is the expenditure of the PCTs on the commissioning of mental illness services. However, it relates only to the expenditure on secondary healthcare in this area; we have no figures for primary healthcare.
	3. The figures are not comparable between PCTs and between years. There are a number of factors distorting the figures, including PCTs commissioning on behalf of others and devolution of mental illness budgets by health authorities and strategic health authorities.
	4. All 2003–04 data is provisional.
	Source:
	Audited summarisation schedules of the above PCTs 2000–2001 to 2003–2004.

Mental Health

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department gives health authorities on the procedure that must be followed before an individual who has been committed to hospital under section 2 of the Mental Health Act 1983 can subsequently be released from that hospital; and what changes have been made to this guidance since 1996.

Rosie Winterton: In January 1999, the Department published Effective care co-ordination in mental health services: modernising the care programme approach—A policy booklet. No changes have been made since 1999.
	The guidance set out that people of working age who are in contact with specialist mental health and social care services have all aspects of their care and treatment, including aftercare, co-ordinated under the care programme approach.

National Institute for Clinical Excellence

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the interests declared by (a) members of the Appraisal Committee of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) and (b) special advisers appointed by NICE.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does not hold information on the interests of members of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) appraisal committee. Declarations of interests of members are recorded in the minutes of each meeting and details of members who have sent apologies due to a conflict of interest are noted.
	Minutes of the meetings are published and can be found on the NICE website at http://www.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=202427.
	There are no special advisers appointed by NICE.

National Programme for IT

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the remit of the National Programme for IT for the NHS entails.

John Hutton: The national programme for information technology (NPfIT) will procure, develop and implement modern, integrated IT infrastructure and systems for all national health service organisations in England by 2010. There are four key elements: electronic appointment booking, an integrated care records service, electronic prescribing and an underpinning IT infrastructure with sufficient connectivity and broadband capacity to support the critical national applications and local systems. The NPfIT will improve patient care by increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of clinicians and other NHS staff.
	The NPfIT is an essential element in delivering the NHS Plan, focusing on the key developments that will make a significant difference to improving the patient experience and the delivery of care and services.

National Programme for IT

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost is (a) nationally and (b) to individual general practitioner practices for implementing the national programme for IT.

John Hutton: £2.3 billion has been earmarked from central funding for the national programme for information technology (NPfIT) over the three years 2003–04 to 2005–06. This will be complemented by national health service baseline spending on IT, already around £1 billion a year in the NHS as a whole. The roll-out of core national applications will continue to come from this earmarked sum. Individual general practitioner practices will receive funding to upgrade to NPfIT systems through their primary care trusts. Systems provided by NPfIT will be at no cost to GP practices. In addition, the NPfIT will cover the cost of suppliers developing training material, including e-training services and training the trainers in the use of new IT services. In all, over £6 billion worth of contracts are now in place covering the whole lifetime of the NPfIT.

NHS Professionals

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the budget for NHS Professionals has been in each year since its inception.

John Hutton: NHS Professionals was established as a special health authority on 1 April 2004. Department of Health funding for 2004–05 is £26.6 million, based on the business plan, copies of which are available in the Library.

NHS Staff (Childcare)

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans there are to increase the provision of childcare places for NHS staff in London.

John Hutton: The Government has no specific plans in place to increase the provision of childcare places for National Health Service staff in London. This is a matter for local decision.
	All new NHS hospital plans are required to include childcare provision, so new nurseries should be built into future capital expenditure as part of any new capital scheme.

Primary Care Trusts

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding was given to each primary care trust in each of the last three years; and what the funding level was per capita.

John Hutton: holding answer 19 October 2004
	Information on revenue allocations to primary care trusts for 2003–04, 2004–05 and 2005–06 has been placed in the Library. The figures shown are based on per head of unweighted population.

Primary Care Trusts

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the population attached to each primary care trust is.

John Hutton: holding answer 15 October 2004
	Information on the population attached to each primary care trust is set out on the Department's website. The address is: www.publications.doh.gov.uk/stats/population/index.htm. The Office for National Statistics will be publishing updated information shortly.

Safety of Medicines

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether all general practitioners have been made aware of the warning issued by the European Medicines Agency in July regarding the safety of SSRI drugs; and on what dates such information was issued;
	(2)  whether the ban on prescribing the drug Seroxat to children under the age of 18 is being enforced and monitored;
	(3)  pursuant to the answer of 29 March 2004, Official Report, column 1218W, on the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, whether a replacement lay member has been appointed to the Committee for the Safety of Medicines' investigation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

Rosie Winterton: Seroxat (paroxetine), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant, was contraindicated for the treatment of depressive illness in children and adolescents under the age of 18 in the United Kingdom in June 2003 because of an increased risk of the age of 18 in the United Kingdom in June 2003 because of an increased risk of suicidal behaviour and a lack of efficacy in this population. This advice was widely communicated to healthcare professionals and the public via a letter through the Chief Medical Officer's public health link, a press release and information on the website of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
	Analysis of a primary care database indicates that the prescribing of paroxetine to those under the age of 18 has dropped dramatically since that time. In the second quarter of 2004, there were no new patients under 18 years of age initiating treatment with paroxetine in the database. Doctors can prescribe a medicine outside the terms of a marketing authorisation if, having weighed the risks and benefits of the medicine in the individual case, they still consider it to be in the best interests of the patient.
	A Europe-wide review of the risks and benefits of paroxetine, with United Kingdom in the lead, was completed in April 2004. On 22 April 2004, a summary of the opinion of the European Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products (CPMP) was released on the website of the European Medicines Agency (www.emea.eu.int) and on the website of the MHRA (www.mhra.gov.uk) on the same day. This was referred to in answer to a question from my hon. Friend, the member for Rossendale and Darwen (Janet Anderson) on 22 July, Official Report, columns. 640–641W. An article in the forthcoming issue of the MHRA and Committee on Safety of Medicines' (CSM) drug safety bulletin, Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance, which is sent to all doctors and pharmacists in the United Kingdom, summarises the key prescribing advice on Seroxat. The product information for patients and prescribers will be updated when the final European Commission decision is issued.
	A replacement lay member has been appointed to the CSM expert working group on SSRIs. Hilary Hawking, who works part-time as a clinical governance user representative for South West London and Saint George's Mental Health National Health Service Trust, has now joined the group.

Safety of Medicines

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 29 March 2004, Official Report, column. 1218W, on the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, who has been appointed to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency's expert working group on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors as a new lay member.

Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Newport West (Mr. Flynn), today.

Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what his policy is on the publication of advice to the Chief Medical Officer from the Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health;
	(2)  when the next report of the Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health on smoking and health will be published;
	(3)  when the latest annual statement from the Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health will be published;
	(4)  whether the Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health has issued recent advice to the Chief Medical Officer on the impact of passive smoking on health.

Melanie Johnson: The Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health (SCOTH), an independent committee that provides advice to UK chief medical officers on scientific matters concerning tobacco and health, issued a comprehensive report on second-hand tobacco smoke in 1998. The final version of the SCOTH report updating their review of research into the health effects of second-hand smoke since 1998 was submitted to UK Health Departments in July. This report is a summary of previously published scientific literature. It will be published with the forthcoming white paper on public health.

Sickness Absence

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of means other than family doctors for the verification of absence from work through sickness.

Jane Kennedy: I have been asked to reply.
	As announced in 'Pathways to work: Helping people into employment: the Government's response and action plan' [CM 5830] the Government have undertaken research to explore the potential for extending statutory certification to non-medical health care professionals.
	The findings are due to be published before the end of the year.

Thames Gateway (Primary Health Care)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many additional primary health care centres he estimates will be required under the Government's plan for an additional 120,000 houses to be built between 2003 and 2016 in the Thames Gateway.

John Hutton: The national health service is actively working with local partners to plan additional services, both primary and secondary, to meet the needs of population growth arising from new housing in the Thames Gateway.
	The Department allocated an extra £8.75 million revenue to primary care trusts (PCTs) within the Thames Gateway for both 2004–05 and 2005–06 in recognition of the growth in housing that is already taking place. Future allocations to PCTs, from 2006–07 onwards, will factor in the impact on population of future increases in housing in the Thames Gateway as well as other growth areas across the south-east.

Transplantation

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many applications have been received by the Unrelated Live Transplant Regulatory Authority since its creation for (a) live unrelated altruistic donations and (b) live unrelated paired donations.

Rosie Winterton: The Unrelated Live Transplant Regulatory Authority (ULTRA) has received no applications since its creation, but it discussed two theoretical applications; one for altruistic and one for paired donation, which, although not formally considered by an ULTRA panel, was used to inform thinking around this area.

Two Shires Ambulance NHS Trust

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Two Shires Ambulance NHS Trust met its performance target for responding to Category A calls in (a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03 and (c) 2003–04.

Rosie Winterton: The information is published in the statistical bulletin, "Ambulance services, England: 2003–04", a copy of which is available in the Library. It is also available on the Department's website at www.publications.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0411.htm.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Airline Services

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what Government incentives are available to encourage airline route development in Northern Ireland; how much funding was allocated, and to what airlines, for this purpose in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment introduced a Route Development Fund in September 2003. £4 million was allocated to the fund and it is envisaged that the fund will operate for three years. To date the fund has contributed to the development of the following new routes:
	Belfast to New York, to be operated by Continental Airlines;
	Belfast to Paris, operated by Easy Jet;
	Belfast to Nice, operated by Easy Jet;
	Londonderry to Manchester, and Londonderry to Birmingham, operated by Aer Arann.
	The fund operates by means of providing an incentive to local airports; Government does not directly aid the airline operator.
	In line with part II, paragraph 13 (Third party's commercial confidences) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, it would be inappropriate to disclose the individual amounts invested in each route, however the initial allocation of 4 million has not yet been exhausted.
	The Government have commented on the successful operation of this fund in their submission to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, which is currently examining the matter.

Breast Cancer

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many women are being HER2 tested for breast cancer; how long they have to wait for test results; what guidelines are followed for this type of testing; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: All women diagnosed with breast cancer in Northern Ireland are automatically tested for HER2.
	Urgent test results are received within one week. Routine test results are available within one to four weeks. This time scale is sufficient as Herceptin is not a first line treatment and may not be necessary until several months or some years after diagnosis.
	National guidelines are followed for HER2 testing. Practice in Northern Ireland takes into account the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommendation that Trastuzumab, more commonly called Herceptin, should be made available for women with HER2 positive advanced breast cancer.

Cardiac Treatment

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety expects the Royal Hospitals Trust to achieve the 1,100 target of cardiac surgical operations annually set in 1992.

Angela Smith: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 12 October 2004, Official Report, column 237W.

Cod Conservation Scheme

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the fishing vessel owners who were awarded transitional aid under the 2004 Transitional Aid Cod Conservation Scheme lease away kilowatt days to other vessel owners to fish within the UK Cod Recovery Zone while being paid compensation to remain in port; and how many of the successful grant applications were for vessels owned exclusively by women.

Ian Pearson: Of the number of vessels awarded transitional aid under the 2004 Temporary Cessation (Tie-up/transitional aid) Scheme, 10 also leased away days at sea to other vessel owners to fish within the UK Cod Recovery Zone while simultaneously being paid compensation to remain in port.
	Of the total number of successful grant applications, one vessel was owned exclusively by a woman.

Delayed Discharges

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to use the independent sector to relieve the problem of delayed discharges.

Angela Smith: The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety recognises the importance of promoting the development of a flourishing independent sector, alongside good quality public services, and the positive impact this could have on the number of people awaiting discharge from hospital. This is being addressed as part of the second phase of the Community Care Review.
	Intermediate Care has been accepted as a means of supporting timely discharge from hospital. In recognition of this, the Department has commissioned a report from the Independent Health and Care Providers to provide an accurate picture of the current level and type of intermediate care provision available in the independent sector in Northern Ireland. This will help to gauge the feasibility of expanding this type of provision, and inform policy in this area.

Erne/Tyrone County Hospitals

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what proportion of the deaths reported in hospitals within the Sperrin Lakeland Health and Social Care Trust in 2001–02 were in the (a) Erne hospital and (b) Tyrone County hospital.

Angela Smith: The information requested is as follows.
	
		Recorded deaths in Sperrin Lakeland trust hospitals(44) in 2001–02 broken down by hospital
		
			   Hospital  Number of deaths Proportion of Sperrin Lakeland deaths in each hospital (percentage) 
		
		
			 Erne 273 55.4 
			 Tyrone County 220 44.6 
			 Sperrin Lakeland trust hospitals(44) 493 100.0 
		
	
	(44) The information shown is for Erne and Tyrone County hospitals only.

Erne/Tyrone County Hospitals

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what proportion of the clinical negligence cases which were pending within the Sperrin Lakeland Health and Social Care Trust in January 2004, were in the (a) Erne hospital and (b) Tyrone County hospital.

Angela Smith: I am advised that in January 2004, there were a total of 115 clinical negligence cases pending within Sperrin Lakeland Trust. The following table outlines the number and proportion of cases by hospital site.
	
		
			  Total number of cases pending Number of cases pending as percentage of total 
		
		
			 Erne hospital 66 57 
			 Tyrone County hospital 49 43 
			 Total 115 100 
		
	
	I can assure you that all cases of alleged clinical negligence will be thoroughly investigated and acted upon as appropriate, to ensure that our hospitals continue to deliver high quality, safe and effective services.

Gastroenteritis and Salmonella

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of (a) gastroenteritis and (b) salmonella were reported in each health board area in each month since 1 January.

Angela Smith: The information requested in respect of cases of gastroenteritis is not available.
	The notifications of Salmonella from laboratories are shown in four week bands from the start of the year and are as follows:
	
		
			  Board 
			 Weeks EHSSB NHSSB SHSSB WHSSB NI total 
		
		
			 1 to 4 1 2 0 0 3 
			 5 to 8 4 2 0 0 6 
			 9 to 12 3 1 1 0 5 
			 13 to 16 3 1 3 0 7 
			 17 to 20 3 0 3 2 8 
			 21 to 24 4 1 3 0 8 
			 25 to 28 93 3 1 3 100 
			 29 to 32 51 10 n/a 2 63 
			 33 to 36 32 10 n/a 7 49 
			 37 to 40(45) 49 31 n/a 16 96 
		
	
	(45) Information is only available up to week 39.
	Notes:
	1. These numbers only relate to those who have sought medical attention.
	2. There have been no reports from one of the laboratories in the SHSSB since week 28.
	3. Figures are based on the location of the laboratory rather than board of residence of the patient, as this information is not available.

Gastroenteritis and Salmonella

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of gastroenteritis were reported in each of the last 10 years in the Province.

Angela Smith: The information requested is not available.

Green Minister

John Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many meetings of the Ministerial Sub-Committee of Green Ministers were attended by the Department's Green Minister in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04.

Angela Smith: I am a member of the Ministerial Sub Committee of Green Ministers.
	However, it has been established practice under successive Governments not to disclose information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees. This practice is now formalised by Exemption 2 of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Hazardous Waste

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much hazardous waste was disposed of (a) illegally and (b) at landfill sites in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years.

Angela Smith: The movement of hazardous waste is controlled by the Special Waste Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998 which provides a definition of 'special waste' rather than hazardous waste. There are no figures readily available for such waste prior to 2002. In 2002, nine tonnes of special waste were recorded as illegally disposed of in Northern Ireland. In 2003, this figure was 67 tonnes.
	A total of 5,280 tonnes of special waste was landfilled in Northern Ireland in 2002. This figure decreased to 4,600 tonnes in 2003.

Hospital Hygiene

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with what frequency hygiene inspections are carried out in hospitals in Northern Ireland; and what steps he is taking to improve hygiene in Northern Ireland's hospitals.

Angela Smith: The responsibility for inspection of hospital hygiene lies with each HPSS trust and information relating to frequency is not held centrally by the Department.
	All trusts have a duty to ensure that high standards of hygiene in hospitals are being met and maintained. High standards of hygiene are particularly important and the key is to ensure that the highest possible standards are achieved. The Department is placing a renewed emphasis on environmental cleanliness with the planned establishment of standards for cleanliness against which HPSS performance will be measured.

Housing

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the uptake was of houses allocated through the Northern Ireland Housing Executive's integrated pilot scheme in Belfast, broken down by perceived religious affiliation in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

John Spellar: The Housing Executive Board, at its meeting in September 2003, agreed that proposals should be brought forward for two integrated housing pilot projects which would enable the Housing Executive, and others, to test the policy and procedural implications of integrated housing.
	The proposals, which reflect the Housing Executive's and other public bodies' responsibilities under section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 to deal with the promotion of equality of opportunity and good relations, are at an early stage and locations for the pilot projects have still to be identified. The out workings of the two pilot projects will be fully considered in the context of local lettings policies, sustainability of the schemes, plans to involve stakeholders and strategic/operational structures.
	Applicants for social housing have a choice of where they wish to live and the Housing Executive will work to support people who choose to live in single identity or integrated neighbourhoods.

Macedon Children's Home

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to initiate an inquiry into child abuse at the Macedon Children's Home in Newtownabbey; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: I have no plans to initiate an inquiry into the incidents at the Macedon Children's Home. I have a great deal of sympathy for the victims in this case and recognise their bravery in coming forward to reveal details of the abuse which they suffered at the home. It is difficult to see what could be achieved in relation to the safeguarding of children by establishing an inquiry into events at Macedon, particularly given the lapse of time, the fact that the home no longer exists and the many changes to child protection arrangements which have occurred as a consequence of the Kincora Report, the legislative arrangements now in place through the Children Order and the work undertaken to ensure lessons emerging from other places have been applied in Northern Ireland. The circumstances surrounding events at this home have, moreover, been investigated by PSNI. In addition to the recent convictions obtained in respect of two former staff, I am also conscious that police inquiries are still on-going in respect of other former staff employed at Macedon.

Victim Memorials

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his policy on the public funding of memorials to victims of the Troubles.

Angela Smith: Government policy has been to prioritise funding for services and support for victims rather than for memorials. The subject of memorials is an emotive one. There are mixed views in the community regarding physical memorials; including deep feelings about sharing such memorials with other members of the community.
	However, we recognise that Northern Ireland has to find a way of dealing with the past which acknowledges the pain, grief and anger that people feel. There are very different views about how we do this and those differences have to be taken into account. My right hon. Friend The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is taking private soundings with a view to broadening the consultation later.
	The hon. Member may be aware that a Government funded Committee under the Chairmanship of Mr. David Campbell is currently consulting on provision of a National Memorial in the UK to all members of the armed forces who served and lost their lives during the Northern Ireland Troubles. The Committee is expected to report in Spring 2005.

MRSA

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what outbreaks of MRSA there have been in Northern Ireland's hospitals in each of the past five years; how many patients were affected in each case; and what steps he is taking to reduce outbreaks.

Angela Smith: An MRSA outbreak is defined as the occurrence of more cases by time and place than would normally be expected. There have been no MRSA outbreaks reported to the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (CDSC) in the last five years. CDSC has just reported on its website the figures by trust for patient episodes of MRSA bacteraemias for a third year, April 2003-March 2004. The number of such episodes rose from 218 to 307, an increase of 41 per cent. In the first year of such reporting the number was 228.
	The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has been undertaking a range of activities to reduce the incidence of MRSA and other healthcare-acquired infections which is a matter of great concern. It has most recently announced the development of an infection control strategy the key aim of which is the prevention and control of the spread of infection in hospitals and other healthcare settings.

NHS Dentistry

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many NHS dentists there were in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years; what the percentage change was in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The information requested is as follows.
	
		Number of NHS general dental practitioners registered in Northern Ireland each year since 2000
		
			   Headcount Percentage increase on previous year 
		
		
			 1 April 2004 720 3.4 
			 1 April 2003 696 1.0 
			 1 April 2002 689 2.4 
			 l April 2001 673 1.8 
			 1 April 2000 661 4.6 
		
	
	Northern Ireland enjoys the most favourable patient to dentist ratio of all the home countries.
	
		
			 Country Number of people per dentist 
		
		
			 England 2,673 
			 Wales 2,860 
			 Scotland 2,385 
			 Northern Ireland 2,225 
		
	
	DHSSPS published a dental work force review in November 2002 and there is ongoing work in relation to work force planning for the dental sector on an annual basis.

Nurses

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many nurses left the NHS in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997.

Angela Smith: The information requested is as follows:
	
		Nursing and midwifery staff(46) leavers from the health and personal social services in Northern Ireland: 1997–98—2002–03
		
			  Full-time Part-time Total 
			  Headcount Headcount WTE Headcount WTE 
		
		
			 1997–98 821 646 357.38 1467 1178.38 
			 1998–99 699 589 350.52 1288 1049.52 
			 1999–2000 818 541 338.76 1359 1156.76 
			 2000–01 590 488 304.86 1078 894.86 
			 2001–02 662 461 289.01 1123 951.01 
			 2002–03 599 493 315.04 1092 914.04 
		
	
	(46) Figures include both qualified and unqualified Nursing and Midwifery Staff.
	Source:
	HRMS

Pupil Exclusions

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils in each Education and Library Board area in Northern Ireland have been permanently excluded in each of the past five years.

Barry Gardiner: The number of pupils in each education and library board area in Northern Ireland who have been permanently excluded in each of the past five years is as follows:
	
		
			  BELB WELB NEELB SEELB SELB Total 
		
		
			 1998–99 6 18 29 6 14 73 
			 1999–2000 19 25 20 3 16 83 
			 2000–01 5 19 29 11 16 80 
			 2001–02 7 16 18 12 23 76 
			 2002–03 18 12 17 16 7 70

Renewable Energy

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to promote renewable energy in Northern Ireland.

Barry Gardiner: The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment continues to promote the strategic development of the renewable energy industry in NI in the balanced interests of the economy, consumers and the environment. The Department's Strategic Energy Framework, published in June this year, includes a target that 12 per cent. of all electricity consumed will come from renewable sources by 2012.
	The introduction of a NI Renewables Obligation (NIRO), effective from April 2005, will provide the necessary investor confidence to secure new generating capacity sufficient to meet the 12 per cent. target. The supply and utilisation of renewable energy is already developing well.
	Action Renewables, the joint venture established by DETI and Viridian plc, is successfully continuing its renewable energy community outreach and awareness raising activities. To date over £1 million has been committed to this important area.
	The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's assessment of the economic potential of biomass for energy generation in NI is nearing completion and will result in the development of a bio-energy strategy for NI. Important combined heat and power projects using wood waste and landfill gas are due to complete next year.
	DETI and its Republic of Ireland counterparts have recently committed around 7 million of European funding to facilitate the rapid deployment of renewable energy/energy efficiency technologies throughout the Interreg region.

Royal Victoria Maternity Hospital

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many women from (a) Africa and (b) Asia presented at the Royal Victoria Maternity Hospital for emergency obstetric care in the two years to 30 September.

Angela Smith: This information is not collected centrally.

School Playing Fields

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to extend the new rules governing the sale of school playing fields in England to Northern Ireland.

Barry Gardiner: Administrative arrangements in Northern Ireland are different from those in GB in that the Department of Education controls the disposal of school playing fields and therefore the current arrangements are considered to be adequate i.e.:
	1. Under the provisions of Article 106 of the Education and Libraries (NI) Order 1986 the approval of the Department of Education is required to the disposal of any land (including school playing fields) which is declared surplus to requirements by an Education and Libraries Board.
	2. In the voluntary schools sector, where schools and playing fields are owned by the Trustees of the school, the Department has to issue a deed of surrender before any playing fields vested for educational purposes can be sold.
	3. The Sports Council for NI would be consulted on any planning proposals involving the discontinued use of school playing fields.

School Transport (Buses)

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to publish the Regulatory Impact Assessment being carried out into the possible effects of a change in regulations regarding seating and seatbelts for children travelling to school in buses.

Angela Smith: The Department of the Environment is currently working with the Department for Regional Development and the Department of Education to collate and collect the information needed to carry out the Regulatory Impact Assessments. Due to the complexity of this exercise it is impossible to give a precise timetable, but it is expected that they will be completed during 2005.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: Information is not currently available to assess the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases in Northern Ireland. However, information from Genito-Urinary Medicine clinics throughout the UK is available on the number of new episodes of various sexually transmitted infections recorded in each calendar year.
	This information is published by the Health Protection Agency and Northern Ireland figures can be obtained from Table 6 of the Supplementary Tables in "Renewing the Focus: HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections in the United Kingdom in 2002. An update: November 2003". A copy of this report has been placed in the House of Commons Library. The report and supplementary tables can also be downloaded from the following website: www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics az/hiv and sti/publications/annual2003/annual2003.htm.

Small Businesses

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to promote small business in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: Invest NI is actively engaged in encouraging the development of businesses of all sizes and has a broad range of measures which can be tailored to suit the needs of each individual business.
	A range of interventions are available which are aimed at improving business competitiveness and Invest NI can provide both advice and financial support for small businesses to develop their capabilities in key areas such as research, product development, innovation, quality, marketing, improvements to operational processes and the development of people skills.
	Innovative new support mechanisms such as a £20 million venture capital fund have also been introduced. This fund has been designed to address the current gap in the provision of equity capital in the £250,000 to £1.5 million range for companies in the manufacturing and tradable services sectors. Invest NI also actively encourages small businesses to become more directly involved in R and D activities and there are a wide range of programmes available to assist companies to engage in strategic research, product development and industrial design.
	Another key priority for Invest NI is to encourage and assist small and medium sized companies in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors to pursue international market development. This support takes the form of market and product information, export capability development, market access visits and in-market support tailored to company needs.
	In terms of new business starts, the Accelerating Entrepreneurship Strategy (AES) was introduced in 2003 as a direct attempt to address the low levels of entrepreneurial activity in Northern Ireland. During 2003–04 Invest NI supported 2,758 new business starts and in the last two years the rate of business starts has increased by 201 per cent.

Sure Start

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding has been made available to the Sure Start programme since its introduction in Northern Ireland; and what plans he has to extend the Sure Start programme throughout Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: When Sure Start was introduced in July 2000, investment stood at £4 million full-year cost (£2 million in-year cost). Investment across subsequent years is as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2001–02 5.8 
			 2002–03 6.6 
			 2003–04 8.5 
			 2004–05 8.8 
		
	
	The current figure of £8.8 million represents the allocation of all of the funding available for Sure Start in Northern Ireland and there are no current plans for a further expansion of the programme.

University Students

John Hume: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many full-time undergraduate university students normally domiciled in Northern Ireland he estimates will be at university in 2005–06.

Barry Gardiner: In 2002–03, the latest year for which information is available, the number of NI domiciled full-time undergraduate students at universities in the UK and the Republic of Ireland stood at 39,009. It is estimated that by 2005–06 this will have increased to around 41,000.